Emberwood Whispers in the night

indra hadn't meant to wander so far from the valley -- her nose had gotten the best of her, and on impulsive heels she trotted through the headlands. she realized she was far from home when she saw the dark fin of mount apikuni, which rose sharply from the cloudless sky. her mind had been occupied the entire jaunt: she thought of laurel, of xan, of that mute wolf that had challenged her sister -- bitterly, she thought of the heat that still clung to her and the weirdness of all males she had encountered since.

she was startled from her ruminations as a black shade split across the bare ground, standing out against the saturated grey earth with a flash of cerise flare on her spine. indra tested the air carefully -- if it was a male, she was ready to turn around -- but the scent lifted to her was distinctly feminine.

old indra might have trotted out gaily to intercept this stranger - new indra remained aloof, making her presence known with a quiet huff that expelled a furl of pale plume from her frosted muzzle.