Swiftcurrent Creek daffodils

there is a woman not far ahead; her chuff calls dawn's attention sharply to her. small, dark, but the huntress does not make the connection just yet. she returns the chuff, tail wafting in universal sign for harmlessness. 

she adjusts her course, moving to meet the woman. it is only when she grows near does the woman's identity become apparent. "khoe." her tail halts its wagging, unconsciously, and she stills. she's certainly, guarded, but outwardly neutral. had this meeting occurred one, two years ago, it may have been a different reaction entirely. she'd only seen her father's mate briefly when she'd herded Sunny back, she'd been too caught up with him to allow any time for her. but now—she was not entirely certain how she felt.