Phoenix Maplewood Before The Light Of Day

"Thank you," said Alya, although she would not consider the matter closed until she knew what Valette herself thought of this plan. It was not that Alya did not think Greyback trustworthy - oh wait, no. It was that. "I'll speak to the Morningsiders and see what they want to do."

Desdemona, of course, had made her motives clear. "And may the descion bring you joy and prosperity," Alya replied, her voice sharp but saccharine. She was annoyed that the other woman thought to disagree with her in front of company, and annoyed by her disloyalty in general. (Or, what Alya considered to be disloyalty.) But she had come to expect these things from wolves that were not her own, and so it did not surprise her coming from the strange, quiet woman. "Good day, Mister Greyback. Feel free to recover here as you see fit, but I'm afraid we have little enough to offer, at the moment."

With that, Alya turned and retreated back into the woods, which now offered her a certain sense of comfort rather than stiffling her. She pressed noses with @Lyra as she passed, silently agreeing that the other girl had been right about Desdemona - Alya had simply become soft and trusting during her recovery. How many times would she need to learn this lesson before it really sank in?

"Why do I even bother with these wolves?" she asked with a soft sigh, too low to be heard by the others. "Maybe we should just grab Timberlake and go. Let them rot away in peace."