Permafrost Hollows She's nobody's fool

A scent, clear in the cold, drew her attention. Barely visible against the icy ground was the mark of the feline’s paw pads, here or there, much larger and rounder than a canine’s would have been. Lilia had only met only one creature of this kind and recognized the scent not only as belonging to the species but to the individual. 

Spring had come; it was time, anyway, for her to fulfill the panther’s request.

She’d been a scraggly child the last time she’d seen the panther. Lilia approached with steady footsteps, though she kept her muzzle lowered as she rounded a corner in the icy, underground labyrinth, and breathed in the scent of blood. Perhaps with her hunger satisfied, the panther might still be as amenable as she had been the last time Lilia had seen her. 

Unlike the cougar, Lilia had changed a great deal since their last meeting. Grown sleek and tough, with scars tracing down her shoulders like epaulettes. She looked upon the panther with a mix of wariness and familiarity.

”Mountain Queen,” She greeted, in the best wolf equivalent of a purr that she could muster.