Distracted as I was by the approach of Ambrosia, I hadn’t fully realized how I had seemingly disregarded Aiden’s courteous greeting. In the periphery of my vision I saw the way his body language seemed to droop slightly, but part of me was actually concerned about the other wolf that had been coming towards us. What if it was some reprobate, some to snatch up two unprepared young wolves from the forest? Well, they would be the ones surprised, because a huntress only sneaks up on others, she doesn’t let others sneak up on her! But the thought was quickly dismissed when she had greeted us so warmly. And before I could even acknowledge Aiden’s shift towards a more dismal mood, he brightened back up and turned to greet Ambrosia with me. Our words were spoke at the same time, and I giggled at the garbled greeting we had offered the older shewolf. Aiden’s apology for speaking over me was met with a smile, and I reached forward and nudged his shoulder with my nose, a symbol that it was really ok.

But his attention was focused entirely upon Ambrosia now, and a single brow arched as I looked back to her. He seemed rather enamored by her very presence. I almost started feeling a little jealous – what, wasn’t I good enough to keep his interest? But when I answered his prior question and he settled back to a point where his attention was equally spread between me and Ambrosia I was content. I smiled at them both, asking what we should do now. The reaction Aiden gave had my tail wagging happily, and the energy he gave off was infectious. Ambrosia began to dance in place, pawing at the ground. Aiden’s statement – that I’d already said an idea – and that we should walk together through the forest, made me excited for the adventures we were about to engage in together. And suddenly I exploded, jumping upwards like a fox about to pounce on a mouse, though instead I simply came back down on the ground and danced around. The russet marked shewolf agreed to the idea, and I pranced about happily, keen to get on the move.

When Ambrosia moved to embrace Aiden I stopped my flouncing about, dial tilting slightly to the side as I observed the action. I had been taught many customary greetings, from my mothers and my father, but this one was completely different from anything I’d seen before. Studious eyes focused on each motion, so when she turned away from Aiden and came to greet me I met her receptively and did my best to mimic the actions she had made with him. Only when she broke away from the contact did I begin to dance about once more. Now was the time to go hunting for beauty! “C’mon then!” I announced happily, frolicking over to Aiden’s far side, so that he would walk between Ambrosia and myself as we set off into the great unknown of the beautiful forest beyond.