Arrow Lake first confluence

She still found herself distracted by the mannerisms of their visitor—his speech drew a gentle look from her, and she could feel a wave of disappointment within her breast at Amsu’s request—Amsu, a name that was now burned in her mind forever, for the many times he repeated it.

Stigmata drew her closer, her name uttered from his lips instantly pulling her gaze upon him, and her tail flicked idly at her hocks in a quiet debate. The territory was nothing but red sand—nothing she had been impressed with, and in truth would hope to avoid. But that wasn’t necessarily the worry—to her, it was whether Amsu’s wolves would follow his law and keep from their hunting ground. Or, if the man himself would keep his end of the deal.

Her gaze washed over him, intrigue lasting only a moment as she considered it strange that a wolf of the desert would choose a location surrounded by higher spiraling peaks that welcomed the cold.

“If a pack settles there, it blocks our path to a lake and other resources from one side of the mountain. Which areas are you looking for your wolves to hunt? What will happen if the herds migrate within our territory?” Her smoky voice lifted to be heard, and she cast a look to her dark General, believing he wouldn’t mind that she sought more specific answers before offering her thoughts.