Gossamer wandered toward the border's edge accompanied by one of her parents companions. She had no intention of going over the border into the Weeping Woods but there were some cool plants nearby she just had to check out. A small stream crossed into Armada territory from the nearby woods. The plant in question stood a couple feet high, growing along the bank. The leaves were grouped in a number of smaller leaflets. Gossy thought it was neat looking, maybe she could take part of the plant back to aunty Io and her aunt could tell her what it was. Gossamer reached out to collect the plant but before she could grab it something large and orange popped its head up and yelled a her.

"Don't bite that, it's poison!" Gossamer whipped her head around to stare at a fox, but not just any fox, a huge fox. "What do you mean poison?"

"That plant is water hemlock, it could hurt you or kill you if you eat it. Just trust me on this kid."

Gossamer eyed the fox. "I'm not just a kid, I'm a princess! Are you a healer?" The fox nodded, sitting politely with her tail wrapped around her paws to appear less threatening. No doubt aware of the pups companion. Gossamer saw an opportunity. She wanted a cool companion like her mom and dad did.

"Say, you want to make a deal. I want to be a healer and I want to have a companion like my parents. If you be my companion and help teach me you can be part of our pack! You'll get food and protection and good things! What do you say?"

The fox considered it for a moment then nodded. "I… actually I would like that, if you don't think I'm too much of a freak. My name is Ásta."

Gossamer smiled. "No, I don't think you're a freak. I think you're cool! My name is Gossamer. Hang on, I'll call for my dad." She tipped back her head and howled for Sirius.

He heard the tiny call of his darkest-coated little one. She had the least amount of Zee or Sirius in her coat, but her bright, courageous eyes reminded him of Zee nonetheless. He followed the sound of the call, leading him towards Weeping Woods. He found her sitting by a stream, a small predator across from her. He raised his hackles, picking up speed, and Bast appeared in front of him. Shaking her head at him, telling him that whatever was going on, it was no threat to his child.

He smoothed his hackles, but did not relax. Continuing forward, brushing past Bast and stopping beside his tiny daughter. He leaned down, kissing the crown of her head, catching the scent of Zee and pack, and her own personal touches in the next breath he drew. It calmed him, if just a smudge. “Little Goss?” he asked softly, giving her room to explain the situation.

Gossamer spied her dad coming and she yipped a little greeting, tail wagging furiously. Behind her Ásta slunk down in the grass, clearly nervous about the large wolf's approach. Sirius kissed Gossamer on the forehead and she reached up to try and lick at his chin. "Daddy! I found a fox that says she'll be my companion just like Bast is your companion. Can she stay?" Gossamer looked over to where the fox was huddled in the grass and she bounded over toward the larger creature and tugged at one of the fox's ears. "This is my dad. Say hi!"

The fox sighed and slowly stood up, making it all the more clear that she was twice the size of the rest of her kind. "Sir, my name is Ásta. I'm a healer. I'd be happy to share my knowledge and look for your little one here in turn for a place to live. I'm sure you can see I'm…well, I'm not really wanted by my kind. I'm closer to a wolf in size than a fox." She quite simply didn't fit in and most immediately began to tease and make fun of her. She'd heard all the jokes from 'how's the weather up there' to comments about having a butt as big as bison's.

He grinned despite himself, casting one last weary expression to the small predator, and then back to his daughter. Her tail wingling in the earth behind her as he came to a stop near the girl. The fox slunk into the grass, properly cowed by the Dire Warlord. He tensed when Gossamer moved closer to the fox, tugging at the creature's ear. A fox was no threat to the majority of the Armada, of course. But his youngest brood were tiny yet, scarcely free of the den for the first time. He would not hesitate to end its life if it so much as twitched its ear wrong at his daughter. After a moment of concern, he realised what his daughter was asking. The creature turned out to be well-spoken as it explained itself to him. “I see.” he said, unaccustomed to companions that could explain themselves in so many words. “Very well, if that is what Gossamer wants. I warn you, she is under supervision 24/7 no matter where she is.” he said softly, through he no longer believed the fox meant harm. "Speech"

Gossamer was all smiles. She liked the fox already and was eager to get a companion just like her dad as well as another healer that could help her learn about plants so she didn't always have to bug her aunt. Honestly, though, she was probably still going to pester her aunt every chance she got. "Yes!" She chirped as her father stated that if it was what she wanted.

Ásta, the fox, nodded at the alpha's words. "Yes, sir, I understand."

Gossamer bounded toward her father, lifting up on her hind paws as she tried to place her front paws up on the nearest front leg so she could nuzzle him. She'd have to show Ásta what she'd gathered so far and maybe the fox could help her find some more cool plants to take to her aunt.

-end?-