Disenchanted

The gentle roll of the water had very nearly lulled her to sleep when she heard rustling in the foliage nearby. Her eyes snapped open and her head turned in the direction of the sound, ears perked in alertness and nose twitching in an attempt to decipher what was approaching her. She caught the scent of a female wolf, judging by the distinct lack of male musk, and one that belonged to one of the nearby packs.

While Ellery knew she wasn’t in any of the packlands, she didn’t let her guard down just yet. Wolves were territorial by nature and even having a wolf close to their border that didn’t belong was enough to set many on edge. From the direction of the sound she could tell they were headed in her direction, so she waited.

Moments later a dark cloaked woman rounded a tree and leapt up onto a flat rock. She was large, approximately the same size as Ellery, which intrigued her. She’d met very few wolves in her two and a half years of life that were her height. Heck, she could probably count them on one paw. Amazon some of her more sarcastic and playful packmates called her. They were normally rewarded with a good cuff from her massive paw.

Figuring it rude to continue laying in company she moved to a sitting position, her posture relaxed and unthreatening. “Mmm, I prefer it a bit colder to be truthful, but I suppose I can’t complain. How about you? Come out to catch a breath after a patrol?” she replied, subtly making it clear she knew of the nearby boundary and had no ill intentions.