Swiftcurrent Creek New waters

Paarthurnax lowered her gaze and looked at nothing, an empty space between herself and Shadow, and tried to keep herself from sinking into paranoia. More than anything, she just wanted to fit in, and trying to convince herself that it was too soon to be appreciated was proving difficult. She felt uncomfortably out of the picture, an afterthought, a creature destined to forever remain in the background. Paar was a wolf who'd been second-best her entire life; her parents had loved her dearly, but never like they loved their proud, strong, dutiful sons.

Silence hung between the two Creek wolves, but Paar card little. She appeared lost among her thoughts, wondering if she'd chosen correctly, or if she might have to uproot herself again. Her previous pack had been nothing but welcoming, where this one seemed scattered. It's future concerned her with every passing day.

Suddenly, in an unexpected gesture, there was a cool nose against her feathery cheek. She slackened noticeably, her muscles releasing their tension, as she succumbed to a warmth she thought her pack-mates incapable of. Paar closed her vibrant eyes and leaned into the touch as though it might be gone too soon, and purled her gratitude. When she opened her copper eyes again, Paarthurnax boldly sought the cool platinum of Shadow's, and she let her tail wag between her hocks.

"Thank you," was all she murmured, shifting so she could bump her snout to the underside of her companion's muzzle, and pulled away to reveal to him her most lovely smile.