Cricket Creek Bog an afterglow, abandoned no longer

---

talvani stood still a moment, ears twitching as she tried to catch all the woman’s words—so many, too many, twisting round each other like fish in a stream. her brow furrowed in soft confusion, though there was no offense in her posture. only patience.
you speak… she began slowly, carefully, tongue thick with accent, ...like wind in tree. soft. many turn. i do not catch all.
her eyes, pale and stormborn, drifted to the water. her paw lifted and swirled it gently.
yes. i am from north. where river is ice. where water bite. a small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth, crooked but genuine. sweet there. clean. earned. she motioned toward the still pool below them. this… too easy. sweet should not be easy.
she tipped her head to study the shadow-colored girl.
but maybe… she added, soft and honest, maybe i am strange wolf. not know south. not know… moss ball.
a blink. then, after a pause—
you teach me?