The record won't stop skipping

As they walked along the path she'd come from, her eyes scanned for her missing bundle. But she paused as he turned to speak to her, telling her that she shouldn't speak about her rank as if it was inferior to others. She knew she shouldn't put herself down, or act like her role in the pack was of any lesser importance. His encouraging words helped her smile to grow, and her black tipped tail swung back and forth. Bass was a kind wolf indeed, and she wouldn't forget it. He even went on to say that they were never too old to learn, and that in itself was reassuring to hear. Maybe she could turn out to be a useful healer after all; it was a skill she hoped to have when she was one day too old to hunt. "I think you're right, Bass," she said quietly, "Thank you for reminding me that my skill is needed just as much as anyone else's."

As they got back to searching, it was only a few feet ahead of them that the main bundle of Alfalfa was found. Her tail waving more enthusiastically, Bright trotted over to the bundle and began gathering it back together, while Bass went about picking up some of the scattered sprigs. The fog thickened in what seemed just a few moments, and as she lifted her head with her gathered bundle, she realized that Bass was completely out of sight. Glancing around in the gloomy mist, she couldn't tell where he'd gone, and she herself had lost her bearings. She perked as she thought she heard his voice calling out, but she couldn't determine where the sound had come from. "Bass?" she called out, taking a few steps in the direction she thought she'd heard him, "Just call out again if you can hear me!"

Oh no, she didn't want to be alone in this forest again. It was way too creepy. She'd been so relieved to meet a friendly stranger, she had forgotten how frightened she'd been on her own. Blinking slowly, she paused in her steps, unsure if she was getting closer or further from her new found friend. She hoped he would be able to hear her, and they'd be able to get out of this creepy forest together.