Phoenix Maplewood i marvel at the stars / and feel my heart overflow

She could see her own breath, a vapor that trailed skyward and dissipated. Spur watched it a moment, though her head whipped around when she heard footfalls coming this way through the forest. She instinctively crouched and tensed, ears splaying as a burly wolf materialized from the darkness and began barking questions at her.

It reminded her of her encounter in the hollow, though this stranger appeared to have justifiable cause for his irritation. Larkspur's blue eyes widened. "Claimed land...?" she echoed in genuine surprise, wondering how she could have missed something so crucial. "I didn't realize. I'm sorry. I have no business here. I'll leave."