Blackfeather Woods us and them

her mood had been spoiled by the toad's death. it had clung to life and endured each bitter insult lobbed in its direction by astara's design, and yet, after ceaseless torment (unintentional, of course -- astara just wanted a plaything) its life had shriveled and it had fallen to ruin.

relmyna's night-cub was as close to mourning as she was capable of. hoping to cease her sunken spirits she searched for @Averna or even her uncle, who had been absent for days beyond astara's counting capabilities.

weaseling through the woods in search of her sister's pale pelt, she drew to a stop when a fluted howl trickled through the cold forest. drawn immediately to its source, the girl broke from cover and was met by a concierge of wolves, every one as bit as alien and different than the next.

astara glanced from one unknown face to the next, noting a (not)wolf who bore a pelt dark as she, a wolf sharing much in common with averna, a wolf colored of clay with a swarthy mask, and finally, a wolf who bore curious markings across her flanks. the dark cub's eyes were lit with wonder, but she was silent as she cycled through each face with hungry inquisition.