we go north

As much as they both wanted and deserved to rest, there was work to be done. Beyond a narrow stretch of grass and bog lay a forest that needed vetting - for treasures as well as trouble. Bazi had not forgotten Njal and Tuwawi's great misfortune upon settling in the glacial forest and discovering that it was the preferred hunting ground for big cats. She would not have her own puppies pilfered by anything short of God himself.

Scimitar rose and Bazi unfurled, mimicking the low bow and complementing with the wolf version of the plank, stretching her aching back until it would crack and pop no longer. Mildly refreshed, the pair soldiered on.

Within less than half an hour, they stood at the edge of what would come to be called the Northwood. It was the very definition of a boreal forest, pleasantly dark and heavily scented, with an undulating floor that ascended slowly as plains turned to foothills. Bazi stared into the gloom. She was a tundra wolf, accustomed to open spaces and exposed rock. The idea of denning among pine needles made her skin itch, but the frosty peaks that backed this dense, coniferous woodland were enough to convince her.

She looked to Scimitar for his reaction, unaware that they were staring at a decent imitation of his precious Neverwinter. "I've never lived in a forest. Is this good?"