The Heartwood I know that I ended it,

Leonore was surprised when her brooding was interrupted by a howl. They sounded young, male, and had asked if she might be looking for company. She hesitated, took time to ponder it, then provided an agreeable response.

All of her time with Marina and Sobeille had taught her that men were something to be cautious of, and for her months away Leonore had conciously avoided them for it. She wasn't so sure what the danger was, of course, and without them here it seemed like it was worth pushing old boundaries

The pair were able to find each other, and eyeing him through thin stalks Leonore thought that maybe she did have reason to be nervous. He was significantly larger than her (which she silently damned her maman's genetics for), though he could only be a few months older. She had always been a runt, though she preferred to call it petite, but now she really felt it.

Pushing out a breath to conceal her nerves, Leonore 'whuffed' a greeting.