The Bracken Woods Dwinnderlets

She found her way to the Teekon Wilds through the North - the same way papa and mama had carried their family away long long ago, before she'd had any sort of capacity to care for herself. But things were different now, weren't they? Different enough for papa to let her go. She knew Tulugaak watched her. He always watched her, even when there were no trees around for him to settle in. Starlette supposed he must be happy she'd finally found a forest to wander through and rest in. She would see his familiar shadow soon.

Sure enough, she heard him, swooping through the trees a little way off and offering his raven call into the soft rays of the late afternoon. Starlette thought of going her own way, but she trusted the raven - as much as she wished papa had trusted her enough to let her out without anyone to watch her. And yet, she coveted his companionship.

Tulugaak! she called out through the trees, and moved to follow. The raven did not come towards her. Tulugaak, what's - oh! and there was a girl instead of her raven, though his cries had now settled somewhere around her. Grey and rain like, and gnawing on a bone. A wolf bone? She wondered, remembering her papa's tales - and Starlette drew a cautious step away, who are you?