The Sentinels rabbits playing with polar bears

it was true that emaleth burned her every emotion, though it lay dormant beneath her reserved exterior-- even from deirdre she hid the flames as best she could, even knowing their bond made it near impossible to truly hide anything from the other. in their youth, emaleth had been the leader of the pair, until their small world had opened. with it, deirdre's fear and uncertainty had dissipated; she had not needed emaleth's protection or comfort any longer, at least not in the same way. and she had changed, too! for the amount of wolves in the forest overwhelmed her, for there were too many and too fluid for the dark witch to know deeply and reach in small number.

she was destined for great things, as was deirdre-- this was foretold by the druid of donnelaith himself-- and yet emaleth could not see how it could be so! how could a wolf who could not relate to her own kind become anything great? was greatness not tied to one's standing in the hierarchy? she would be second to deirdre, but unless the rest held respect for her, it would be in name only.

"i will protect you and the forest as i always have," she said after a long moment had passed between them. "not with body, but with spirit." still, emaleth was troubled, for this did not seem so great a destiny.