The few minutes that went by as she waited for an answer were particularly worrying for the young girl, who despite being used to saying goodbye still felt sick everytime she did so. Suddenly another howl rose into the air, carrying the response Maera was dying to hear.
At least she wouldn't be left waiting in vain.
Soon, her friend's pale form materialized in the distance making the fire-kissed Sveijarn light her face with a warm smile. Though Scarlett was quick to come and greet her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead, Maera was also quick to see through her friend's casual demeanour. With her body tensing up as the intoxicating scent of a stranger reached her nose, the teen narrowed her eyes in confusion as Scarlett continued to speak, paying no heed to her reaction or even bothering to explain it.
"Missed me?"
"Yeah.." she barked softly, her nostrils flaring as she continued to analyze the peculiar odour that hung from her friend's coat. Had she encountered a loner while she was gone? If she was an aspiring Outrider or something of the sort it might've made more sense, but until now, Scarlett had not mentioned any interest of that sort..
Before she could ask, however, Scarlett changed the course of the conversation, turning the focus from herself to Maera instead. At the mention of the Alpha, the young Sveijarn could not help but quirk her brow -- during her time here (which was basically the majority of her life) the two had never exchanged a word. Not even when the Sveijarn royal family crumbled had he seeked her out -- but neither had she.
"I guess I could use some", she admitted then, placing all other thoughts about Malachi at the back of her mind. It was not as she had never hunted before, but it was not as she was able to bring more than an occasional hare or a squirrel to the pack. Maybe this was Malachi's subtle way of saying 'be useful for once'.
How nice.
![[Image: girl_gang.png]](https://image.ibb.co/b82KNa/girl_gang.png)