Sun Mote Copse no land beyond

the scarlet priestess had not expected company -- all the same, company came. arunik'ra lifted her slender muzzle from the water, long streams of cascading liquid splattering from her chin to the water's surface. the wolf was red, much like her -- and arunik'ra sensed she was capable underneath that feminine figure. she was cast of a similar clay, a bright fire swathing her fur and a gentle flicker in her honeyed gaze. arunik'ra watched her closely as she bent to drink, studying her without compunction.

the civility that natashe extended was reciprocated; arunik'ra let a warm smile split her narrow snout. "you are not." she answered, flinging a weary paw above the water to show the stranger her slightly swollen wrist. "i am simply cooling these old limbs, they are tired from today's work."