Morningside Cuesta dulasei

heda fought the cadence of her own heartbeat. closing her eyes, she took exaggerated breaths. rivenwood could not be far. but in turning to examine the cardinal directions, she caught first sight and then sound of a completely unfamiliar wolf.
heda had only ever known those in rivenwood. even when she had gone out of doors before, mahler had been with her. but he was not here now.
the question was not processed. she stared at the woman, hackles beginning to climb worriedly upon her spindledown shoulders. "go away!"
the girl pulled into herself and began to back away, unfortunately not in the direction of the multicolored maple forest.
and when she felt she was far enough away, heda turned around and began to run, tail tucked between hinds and breath fully panicked, ears clamped in terror.
heda chanced a glance back along her straining shoulder to see if the stranger was following.