Seaside Moors keep coming back

So few wolves came to the border for Raleska, that at first she simply thought the call was a trick of the wind. It’d been so long since she’d seen or heard of Kaertok, that she certainly didn’t make the connection who the caller was until she saw him.

The interest in her gaze fell away once recognition set in, replaced by a cool dullness that spoke of a person well-doctrinated to hurt. Raleska’s smile was nonexistent — as was the warmth in her eyes — as she regarded the man who had left her not once, but more times than she had interest in counting.

Why must he come back, always when life was at its worse? What was it about the orbit of her life that invited him unannounced, as if he were the omen precipitating her eventual downfall? And — what now, brought him to her door — how long before he just left again?

She’d wanted more than anything to beg him to stay that night in Ankyra. She hoped he’d somehow sense it, but he’d left her anyway. Pride kept her from showing any semblance of joy in seeing him — and the memory of past hurts had her protectively hiding any emotion across her face save for disappointment.

Her stomach was twisted and tongue in knots as she managed a single, unwelcoming greeting. What do you want?