Between the grandiose posturing and the daisy chain, Alethea was completely charmed. She smiled warmly, stifled her giggle at Cal’s comment. What an interesting dynamic they had! She and Leto would sometimes argue, but in general they did not tease each other. Leto was not really the sort of wolf to tease. In fact, she regarded the whole exchange with a puzzled look and a tilted crown.
Furthermore, she could sense that her faerie was planning some sort of adventure, and was concerned that nobody was taking anything seriously.
“Wolf wrestler? I’ve never been called that before,” Alethea laughed, looking at Cal over her shoulder, and gracing Buddy with an admiring glance. Off to her right, she could faintly hear Leto mutter “I do not wrestle.” “Is that what they call faeries with wolf familiars, where you are from? And I’m not sure what you mean, about elements...”
By now they were passing through the gate, and Alethea was quite content to keep up the obviously distracting conversation. She turned Midnight in the general direction of the Marsh, and gave him his head. He gleefully extended his gate, oblivious to any danger. The landscape between the gate and the Marsh was a lovely expanse of rolling hills and small copses of trees in full autumn foliage – it was doubtful that the direction itself would cause any unwanted questions....especially if the bow and quiver strapped to the lady’s saddle hadn’t. But who knew? Maybe Cal was the sort of woman who welcomed the opportunity to shoot something. She’d certainly seemed ready for action when she’d first spotted Leto!
As if sensing her thought, Leto looked up at her, questioning. When Thea didn’t meet her gaze, she redirected her attention behind them.
“Where are you from, exactly?” the wolf asked their escort, fixing Buddy with a critical eye.
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