Swiftcurrent Creek I walked alone

Man, she liked this guy! At first thought Jasmine had wondered if he’d be a stick in the mud (though to be fair, these days she wondered this about everyone first time she met them), but he seemed easy-going and fun. She grinned when he shared about his family tradition.

Dude, that’s pretty sick! How cool would that be, to pick your own name! Man, I dunno what I’d even call myself. So, like, whaddya do to find it? Bartholomew had taught her about God when she’d lived on the isle. Was He the one who gave wolves their surnames, too? And how do the girls get theirs?

She laughed along with him, and teased with an air of mischief, oh, I expect MANY steps. We can even add a new one every week, to keep it extra secret. The more steps you know, the more lonely you know you are, after all; us lonely wolves have all the time on our paws for handshakes, between the times we set aside to cry and stuff, she grinned, if you make ‘em, I promise I’ll race you to the top of that lonely wolf pecking order.

And then, he mentioned a place.

Jasmine expected their talk to turn this way, and it didn’t take her guard. But that still didn’t mean she was any more prepared.

She was thankful he mentioned something else to grab hold of. Gave her time to think a little.

Trouble? she quirked a brow, you don’t look like the type to find yourself on the side of trouble. What kinda things they stirrin’ up?