Lone Star Mountain today, you were far away

Heavy footsteps in the fresh snow caused Seal to sniffle away her next sob.

Her paws curled tight to her chest as she looked, eyes red and wet, for whatever creature also traipsed about the ridge… for it certainly wasn’t a wolf.

She caught sight of it lumbering… and decided it was not bear, nor elk, nor deer, nor moose… it’s legs were thick, it’s body wooly and broad. A long, dark, strip of hair fell from its neck and tail… a feature she had never seen in a forest creature.

Seal shifted fearing that it might decide to trample her should it be surprised to be near a predator….

But Seal, so sad and alone and miserable, also spoke. “You’ll not w-want tae go this way,” she said. “More w-wolves down there.” Her eyes cast in the direction of the Vale to the place where her new life would have to begin.