Northstar Vale between the jaws of fate

"Thank you, sir," spoke River, her eyes growing large with gratitude as she gazed up at him. They waited in silence until the arrival of Tamar, a beautiful golden she-wolf. Though this was a canine closer in size to herself, River shrank once again in submission, this time her motions to lower her stature more purposeful. The golden woman was, after all, likely in a position of power within Epoch and this role demanded respect.

"I am not hurt, no. Thank you for asking," she replied. Her voice was sweetened with a sense of surprise. River hadn't expected such concern, not from a woman of status, to be shown a lowly loner such as herself. "I am a bit weak," she admitted, "I have not eaten in a while, you see. B-but it will not take me long to regain my strength. I promise to make myself useful right away." Her words were spoken in almost childlike earnestness.