Long Road Back

Ara was almost always a composed girl, rarely shaken by anything; but she had not encountered many wolves like Twig before, and it had set off a slight irritation inside her. But she, too, was stubborn, and was unwilling to let the other woman off so easily. And yet all it took was a simple comment to make her agree. A slight smile would tease the corners of the girl's lips, her face threatening to break into a smile, but she would force it away.

"Good," she said simply, drawing closer to the woman. Even in the near-darkness, she saw how strange her pelt was -- creamy white in some areas, but jet black in others. Not at all unlike her own coloration. But what caught her eye, in the faint light of the moon, was the strange pattern on her front left leg. It was like nothing she'd ever seen before, and she couldn't help but stare for a moment too long. "You will feel much better in the morning," she agreed confidently. Now, the only problem would be to actually find what she was looking for. Luckily, lavender was an easy plant to find -- its aroma was pungent, and unmistakable from the rest. "If you want to walk with me, you can," she offered warily. For a moment she had seemed on the verge of anger, but it subsided as quickly as it came, and she once again was nothing but a hesitant -- but very smart -- child. "If not, I will come back once I find what I am looking for. By the way, my name is Ara."