When I stopped and truly thought about it, I did not know many wolves beyond my immediate family. Always I had aspired to be as silent as much mother and as clever as my father. Never had I know much of a relationship with my elder siblings, though of my older sisters I had a few afternoons in Cersei’s company. I had spent much of my youth with my brothers, but even Judas and Praetor had strayed away from me now. Recently I had found company only in my learning, in wandering from one place to another to glean whatever information I could from observation and experimentation. I hoped that soon I would learn enough to rise to the rank of Scholar amongst the wolves of my homeland. To teach others was something I strived towards.

My pale eyes are alight with interest as our conversation continues. We jest with one another, and in that moment I began to wonder if maybe I had found a friend in Aithne. Perhaps if she did come to visit Glorall sometimes I could determine if that were true, though I wasn’t sure if there was some standard to which I could compare relationships. I only had my family to balance against. Either way, I enjoyed her company, and I hoped she would accept my invitation. Her response to my inquiry about the thickness of the mammal’s skin made me smile once more, a light laugh escaping me, continuing as she spoke of the fish. “Well, I am glad you have avoided such ill fates thus far. I was told a tale once of a former King of Glorall being eaten by a whale, so I suppose our clear waters hold their own dangers.”

The invitation I gave her to come and hunt with me upon Glorall’s shores was met kindly, and my smile broadened as she accepted it and even went so far as to offer for me to come and hunt in Iromar. My ears flitted backwards momentarily at the notion, nervous that I would not be strong enough for such a hunt. An alligator’s hide might not be too thick for Aithne’s fangs, but their leathery hide might prove difficult for my own. But the opportunity to learn had presented itself, and I could hardly deny it! Once more my ears perked forward and my tail thumped once against the cold stone of the cavern. “Getting dirty doesn’t worry me, but I think your teeth might be a little sharper than mine in that respect.” I smiled though, and hoped that if we did go after an alligator together it was too old and slow to catch me or young and small enough that even if it did manage to get a bite in it wouldn’t, well, kill me.