Bearclaw Valley whatever it takes

she was still too far to make out their conversation, for the wind had a unique way of carrying all other sounds of the forest to her straining ears. from her vantage she did not miss the subtle shift of her sister's body language -- dutifully, the red child rose and padded quietly down towards them.

as she drew closer she was able to appraise xan, who from a distance she couldn't tell much about. in truth she thought his height and stature intimidating, though it appeared her sister did not. she offered the male the weakest of smiles before circling to pull up behind laurel.