Lake Rodney Where does a mind like yours wonder

The stranger’s head lifted, looking toward her. Treepie’s mouth fell open as she beheld the… well, ugliest wolf she’d ever seen in her life. She couldn’t even begin to guess at a gender as her yellow eyes roved from the short, thick muzzle to the ears that drooped past their pale cheeks. Pie even spotted a tail so thin and bare of fur that it reminded her of a rat’s.

But just because they hadn’t been blessed with good looks didn’t mean Pie couldn’t be polite. Drawing in a breath, she padded a little closer, wondering if the light was playing tricks on her eyes. But she stopped about two yards away from the unknown wolf—female, if her scent was anything to go by—and realized she was even more hideous up close. She didn’t smell diseased or anything, so at least it wasn’t anything contagious.

Greetings, the Ostrega offered quietly, her tail giving a single flick. Are you from around here?

Surely this peculiar wolf didn’t belong to the Redhawks. Treepie cringed outwardly as she inwardly scolded herself for the uncharitable thought. But deep down, she still felt certain of her unkind assumption.