Blackfeather Woods Pained red

And if bait was offered, bait would be taken. Flashing the woman a rare grin, Maegi sat down, wagging her small tail in response. "You really need to know all this if you're going to live here," she began, raising an eyebrow. "So. . ."

The girl's voice pitched lower as she commenced with her story, starting from where she knew. "Years ago, Meldresi Melonii came to this forest. She brought her gods, her tales, from a faraway land. She had children--my mother one of them--and the pack was born."

Her eyes lifted once more, hearing the whispers of the gods--what another might pass off for the breeze through the trees. "The Night Mother, Mephala, and the Dread Father, Sithis, watch over us here," Maegi explained. "We worship them, and they like us." She brought her gaze down to Rouge, grinning. "I'm training to become a priestess."