Leave behind the heartache, castaway

The girl continued crying until she felt empty. Hollowed out and numb. She started making a list of things she knew to try to tether herself back to reality. M'name's Avantika Azrail. The ground's prickly. She took a deep breath. Lists are easy. I like lists. Just as she composed herself enough to open her eyes, a strange wolf ran up to her.

Avantika's eyes widened and she cringed a few frantic inches backward. The hackles rose on her back, making her cower even more at the anger she was certain would come from such disrespect. She couldn't force the fur to flatten any, no matter how hard she tried. Staring up at the woman, she almost gaped at the terrifying size and strength of her. She was bigger than any wolf the child had ever seen. She flinched and shoved herself back against the grass even more. Her eyes were so bright... Well, eye. Was she born with it? Or--or had someone attacked her?

Eventually she registered that the stranger had started talking. Her neglected upbringing had left her with a vocabulary pups younger than her could scoff at, so it took her a few seconds to figure out what she was asking for and how to respond. "Avantika Azrail," she mumbled, just loud enough that the woman could understand if she paid attention. "An' I dunno. She didn't want to think about whatever happened. She didn't want to think about anything at all.