Hushed Willows black in the magic, beauty in the tragic

his face was set in a muted smile as she struggled to grasp for the words, giving a small laugh as she assured him she wasn't sick. he closed his eyes as she touched him once more, the smallest of sighs escaping him. "no, chikni raat, you're not sick, i know," adi breathed, lowering his gaze down onto her. she was beautiful, so small and elegant. a dancing shadow. . . "don't worry. we'll go see catori."

but why was she alone? "where's. . ." his voice trailed off as adi grappled with the name of the burly wolf he'd seen her with at the hunter's moon. surely that was her mate, or something or the sort? stockton? stocker? ". . .stock?" he guessed lamely, looking at seelie to see if he was correct.

or anybody else, really. any of the undersea wolves could have--should have--accompanied her out here. why was she alone? he knew she wasn't defenseless, but there were wolves out here worse than anything that lived on the island. . .and she was alone.

"i can take you to morningside, if you'd like," adi offered, swishing his tail behind him. "it's not very far away at all."