Bramblepoint red-hawk for dinner

The boy was soon presented to him, looking much like his mother, but far smaller and thinner — and thinner of pelt. His brow furrowed at once. There were many comorbidities that might plague one with albinism. Aureli could see already that the boy must struggle in the sun. But he seemed wholly formed on the outside, and his insides must be in at least serviceable condition to have gotten him to this age.

"Hello. I'm a healer," he said to the boy, eyeing him critically. There was nothing particularly gentle in his expression, but Aureli was built of something already gentled, and there were few ways in which he could wield himself or his words that might achieve the sort of aggression he'd witnessed in other wolves.

"What is your name?" he asked the boy, watching him intently.