Noctisardor Bypass p[r]imavaera

A shadow followed her, briefly. It split off to investigate the earth nearby and Stryx, unable to identify friend or foe, was reticent in following; but after finding her own path lead out to the open, she doubled back to where the boy stalked.

What was a boy so young doing here, of all places?
(And what the hell was she doing here, except to fulfill an agreement? She was too old for this; she was no warrior —)

A bear of a wolf erupted from a path unseen. Whether Stryx could recognize Wylla in that gut-wrenching moment was unimportant; she saw teeth, felt them snap so close to her that the air felt singed. She swung her body but did not retaliate, as it was so ingrained within her to do no harm that such a thought felt alien.

A crackling growl came from Stryx as she tried to retreat in to the shadows, drawing the attention of the wolf away from wherever Val had ended up.