Greatwater Lake And since birth I’ve been cursed with this curse to just curse

He let out a shaky breath as he let himself think about Ancelin for a moment. Was his brother still at the rise, with their father? What did he make of Atreus’s disappearance? His fur prickled when he realized—not for the first time—that his brother couldn’t know that their Aunt Avicus had forced his hand. He had never meant to leave his brother behind like that.

He inhaled sharply about the time he noticed the white she-wolf noticing him. Atreus stiffened, back straightening. He saw her ears splay and he shifted, curious but wary. Atreus stared for a beat before deciding to close the distance a little, minding his posture as he did so he came across as neutrally as possible.

It surprised him when he came closer and realized she was smaller than him. Atreus was just now reaching full growth but he was not a large wolf. It wasn’t often he came across someone significantly smaller than himself. It made him feel self-conscious in a way, like he was some hulking and ungainly giant, and that peculiar feeling prevented him from so much as offering a word of greeting.