How Fast Time Flies

She became aware of the sounds of movement from somewhere outside. At first, she thought it was Zuriel, but the steps were faltering, unsure, and Zuriel was a confident creature, save for crowds like the festival had seen. The pups had settled down into sleep again, so she carefully extricated herself from them and slipped out of the alcove, peeking around the frame of the cave mouth. Her eyes fell upon a wolf that at first, she thought was Caerul. But the wolf was far too small, and the markings weren’t quite right. She sifted through the faces in her memory, and hit upon an answer. Ardal. No, Arda. While Ardal had been the name her cousins Cael and Imena had bequeathed upon the male form, the female within the male body had chosen a more feminine version. Surreal had gone along with it, wishing to ensure her little second cousins happiness. Family was family, no matter what.

She padded out of the cave, tail wagging. ”Arda!” There was delight and welcome in her cry, but she gave the girl a respectful birth, allowing her to close the distance if she wished to. So many questions and hopes welled up. Where were Cael and Imena, and the other two children? Were they alright? Where had they been all this time? But she kept them to herself for the moment, not wishing to bombard her young cousin with them all at once.

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