Lake Rodney A journey (a decision)

satsu saw the lake from the hillside as she journeyed beyond the caldera. in a few hours she knew she would have to turn around and resume her hike for home, back to where the vermin shared a bed with her friend. back to where pharaoh waited with tales of the saints and the tiger-lord who ruled them.

for now she sought the solace of the water's edge; it was here that she found the warm, familiar scent of the blackwolf, which surprised her. the last she had seen of him was within the strathwood.

as she sought to search the tree line nearby, she hesitated over a patch of crushed grass which could have been a sleeping spot; it smelled faintly of deer and was quite wide, giving the impression that an ungulate had slept here rather than a wolf.

with a sigh the girl looked away from the grass, to the water. it was there she saw the pointed figure of the boy wading through the shallows, much to her surprise. the water slicked his coat and made him look even smaller and younger than before.

hello again! she called out; then, thinking suddenly that he might be hunting for a meal, she clicked her mouth shut. her ears fell back a moment as a signal of apology.