Two Worlds into One

He was patrolling, bringing Aurielle with him to explore the Druid’s Moor at last. He could see that she was excited by the expansion of her horizons, but she was collecting herself with that regal comportment he’d trained into her. He was glad that Amos’ influence had helped her keep that puppy good humor, but she knew when to indulge and when to settle into working mode and learn.

Today, apart from patrol-work, he was teaching her how to move silently through the fog, and she was showing an aptitude for it. With her shimmering coat, growing mane and tail, and dual toned blue eyes, not to mention her long upper canines, she would be an impressive sight in the open, and stepping from the mist like an ethereal, glimmering ghost? Even more impressive.

He was lowering his head to point out the softest patch of peat to set her paws when Paladin’s call filtered to his ears, not far away. His head lifted, head tilting. Then he tipped his head toward the call, murmuring, come along, ‘Rielle. Let’s see what your cousin wants.”

It hadn’t been an urgent call, so he took his time, enough to help his daughter find her silent way through the mists, until they reached Paladin’s location. He stopped, just at the edge of visibility, studying his young cousin and his burden. Wasn’t that one of the wolves from Talis on that travois?

He gave a light flick of his tail, ushering Aurielle to stay shrouded in the mist as he stepped forward, raising a brow at Paladin as he circled to come to Sterling’s side. She looked a sorry sight, and in pain. And when he took in her scent, he also took in the fact that she no longer bore the scent of the Austerian pack.

His head rose to cast a look at Paladin, then that fathomless gaze turned to lock with the rich emerald eyes of the young wolf on the Travois. “Well?”

Clearly, he wanted an explanation, and would be willing to settle for a brief one over the long version, though it was also clear that the query was directed more at Paladin than Sterling.