The Heartwood In the Bleak Midwinter

Maybe @Mara or @Runt as I would prefer that Riko met at least one of them?

The sound of water gurgling signaled the unseen river. Not that Riko didn't know that it was there. She knew perfectly well that it was there, for what kind of fool decided to stay somewhere for a while without checking the surrounding area? Even she, who practically wore the crown of stupidity, had enough common sense to do that.

The edge of the forest Riko was closest to had the river run by it. The name of the forest and river she did not know, but she also did not care. They could be called anything and they would still be a river and a forest to her. All Riko knew was that she was in unclaimed lands, and this was where she had been for the past few days with her makeshift den.

That would have to change soon. Winter, even if it hadn't been too harsh yet besides a few snowstorms, was a wolf's worse enemy. How Riko had managed to survive by herself this long was a mystery with lots of luck involved. Luck couldn't be trusted though. It could help you all it wanted, but there were some things that even luck couldn't help. She had experienced that firsthand.