Reconnaissance

She had been standing at the edge of the Syndicate border for quite some time. The wretched stench of decaying animal remains made a very clear boundary around their packlands. Her silver gaze scanned the shadows apprehensively. Her jet-black pelt, flecked with crimson, stood on end like spikes against the biting winter wind of Boreas. She hadn’t told anyone what she intended to do- perhaps they would have forbid her from coming or tried to restrain her. But she couldn’t wait any longer. She had waited for Caedes to return to her- had waited for days. The sensation of holding his trembling body was still vivid in her mind. She had been patient, yes, but patience seemed to feed her worry rather than assuage it. This was a reckless pursuit, there was no arguing that. But the compulsion to find him, to ensure that he was okay far outweighed any sort of rational thinking.

With a deep breath she crossed the border, stepping over the carcass of a long-dead deer that marked the territory line. The snow beneath her paws crunched defiantly, echoing her resolution in the utter stillness. The journey was fraught with dangers- all she knew of the Syndicate's lands was the warnings they had been issued to not go near, foreboding and creeping like the gnarled, naked trees that loomed over her now. Nevertheless, her ears swiveled, alert to every sound; her eyes narrowed and meticulously traced the unknown terrain for any signs of Caedes.

Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum with every step she took, each beat a litany of anxiety. But she didn’t have to look long before she caught his scent- she could pick it out from anywhere. As quickly as she could, Mariah followed the trail, her paws moving in a rhythmic determination. Her breath plumed out before her, invisible tendrils intertwining with the frigid winter air. And after several gut-wrenching moments of apprehension, he finally came into her view.

"Mariah Mendacium"