Walkin' In A Muddy Winterland

Crystal drifted on the wind above, silent and ghostly, and it was she who spotted the wolf first, and she glided ahead of the wolf, drifting to land on Cairo’s withers, talons clutching the edge of his armor and the thick folds of his hood, beak clicking.

He turned to face the much smaller woman – no, he realized, as she came closer, girl – ears flicking forward. She was small, slim, and had none of the physique brought to a warrior’s bones. And, clearly, as she spoke, he found she was lost.

Deep sapphire eyes twinkled down at the girl as he looked her over, assessing her condition. Her coloration gave him very little pause, having grown up around Aurielle, her father, and now her husband and children. Even Viviane was a particularly saturated cream color, though it was far from a canary color.

“Of course. This is the Avian Estuary, along the southwestern edge of a continent called Boreas. You’re in the less pleasant end of the Estuary, but farther west it’s better. Migratory birds like it, so it gets pretty noisy at times. To the north of us is Valhalla, my pack, and next door to the east is Aerie, another pack, and our neighbor.”

He shifted, Crystal balancing easily with him as he turned, head tipping northward toward Valhalla’s southern border. “My Spirit, or Alphess, may well grant you a place to rest and get your bearings.”

His features held his usual genuine smile, and he made no move to pressure the girl, leaving the choice open to her.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think