Mudminnow River Made plans with me and all your friends, I'm late again, I hate to keep you waiting

She ought to have noticed Aditya sooner, but Wisteria kept her eyes trained on the water and her other senses buzzed with fatigue. Her ears didn't so much as turn at the sound of his approach. Despite his scent on the breeze, she paid no mind to her nose. She remained unaware of him until he barked, sending her flinching toward the treeline as though the bank had scorched her paws.

Her turquoise eyes narrowed to slits as she raked them over Aditya's agouti brown pelt. It took her seconds to analyze him. Pack wolf. Strong. She was all leering mistrust and bristling defense as she asked, voice hoarse and rasping, what d'you want? Plump, comfy pack wolves never approached starving loners without wanting something. Most of them, in her experience, were entitled pricks too high and mighty for the likes of scavenging vagabonds.