Ravensblood Forest The one that will occasionally openly steal babies

Dragomir expected silence as a response, or maybe a mischievous giggle from the undergrowth. Perhaps it was his mother following him even after he requested time alone, or possibly Vercingetorix come to find him and shepherd him somewhere else. The absolute last thing Dragomir expected was a stranger's voice. He may have mistaken Merrick for his father but for the question itself; Vercingetorix would never ask that, so who was this?

The boy whirled in a tight circle, searching frantically for the owner of the voice; in his haste he passed over Merrick twice before his golden-brown eyes snagged on the autumnal orange of the watcher's. With a blink, the boy stiffened and felt his guard hairs creep upward. Sanguinus? he wondered, mistaking the other wolf for his mother's so-called protector in the dim light of the forest. This time he had no reason to rail and fight against the man; Aurëwen hadn't left him without an explanation this time. The terms were his own.

Or so he believed.

My sister, remember? he reminded the other, squinting in the gloom. Mother's looking for you, Dragomir pointedly told Merrick, trusting that the man would understand exactly what he meant by that. Even if Aurë wasn't really looking for Sanguinus, he was her friend, wasn't he? Dragomir didn't want to hang out with him, so best send him to her. For now, he didn't notice the second shadow lurking behind the first.