Broken Antler Fen there's no place like home

The two stood – yin and yang – still and wary. She could not quite understand why her appearance would startle this male as much as it seemed to. His face flashed with disbelief, and she found her mind spinning wildly out of control in an attempt to recall if she had ever met this brute before. His stark white was something she did not recollect well enough. Yet, his eyes burned with familiarity and Lucy would have sworn solemnly that he knew her. Gritting her teeth, she fought the stinging of fear that was rising in her chest. She was furious with herself. How could she not know him?

”I'm Skwol,” his quiet words drifted through the fen. Suddenly, she breathed deeply – not having realized that she had been holding her breath all that time. Her form softened and she blinked. The shadow was not familiar with this pale wanderer after all. This was relieving to the young girl. She retained some grasp of reality for a while longer.

The man then inquired if she had eaten. This question took her aback and she looked to him with a slightly gaping mouth. “I... no, I haven't,” she muttered after a prolonged silence. She wondered why a stranger would inquire this in the midst of a winter chill. Prey would certainly be scarce and it would not be uncommon for wolves to go some time without having eaten. Somehow, his single probing question had struck her as having been issued with only concern. Still fearful, she allowed him to step closer without fleeing. In turn, she took a few crunching steps closer to the wolf with sun-lit eyes.

“I'm Lucy.”