[P]erhaps now we are free

She argues and he purses his lips in frustration. It was often that their conversations went this way. Ella is the thinker, after all, and his protests were only out of a desire to see her safe. But staying cooped up at this spring won't guarantee their safety, he knows. With a huff he lurches from the spring and shakes the water from his coat.



"Good wolves," is all he can mumble at first. But his body language relaxes, an obvious sign of his agreement. She's offered a compromise, and he knows either way that he can't stop her. "Before nightfall," he repeats sternly. "And don't take any risks. Trust your gut. If you meet a wolf that you don't have a good feeling about, don't push it." She can protect herself. With a flick of his tail he reaches down to press his nose to the top of her head before darting into the trees. She's right about one thing: they were due a good meal.