Live and Learn

Ræsa, since emerging from her sickened respite, found that she had grown much larger than most other wolves, even though she herself was not yet full grown. She felt full grown but Katja and the others continued to insist that she was not. She supposed she would have to take her word for it. Bodolf told her to be quiet and listen to the wisdom of her elders but she ignored him. Thanks to her excessive size, she felt no fear when she caught sight of the somewhat smaller male moving along the lakeside before her. Around her snow was falling and in increasing intensity as well. She followed him, quiet and keen on his trail, like her mother had taught her.

She finally saw him disappear into a den of tree roots and earth, likely seeking refuge from the growing blizzard. Ræ had found that she rather liked the snow. Her earliest memories were of the late spring snow, playing with her sisters and one brother. Now she saw less of them, but the memory was no less sweet for that. She came upon the den and paused a few paces away from it's mouth, ever bold in the face of the unknown. She frowned, pondering for a moment before asking "Are you planning to wait out the storm in there? I hope you've eaten something at least." She herself ought to be heading home, surely, or at least heading for shelter. There was no doubt that the man had the right idea but she simply did not feel a need to heed common sense or reasoning. She was for too headstrong for such a logical notion. Snowflakes began to accumulate on the plush plumage of her back and mane.