The more she spoke to this girl the more confused and bewildered Despoina started to become. She opened her mouth to say yes, she could visit and then snapped it shut again. No. She had left Spirane her head high and a snarl on her lips. Only the love of her sister would bring her back across that border. This girl was not going to convince her to come back, to spend more time in the maddening mountains. Going to explore the rocks and the caves. No. She could say hello when they crossed paths. No, if they crossed paths. She would not try to make a point of seeing this young wolf.

A weird twisting sensation started in her stomach. Something felt wrong, but something felt good. She looked at this girl and wondered who she would be in a few years. Wondered if she, too would get tired of the mountains of Spirane. If she visited who would they both be in a few years? Why did this seem to matter to her. It was the strangest feeling Despoina had ever felt and it made her want to tear something to shreds and then rip those shreds to smithereens. This was not what she wanted. It was wrong. She was strong, she was uncaring. Nothing could touch her without fear of being attacked. But Aurelia’s tail flicked her shoulder, and the snap she gave in return was smooth and sly, friendly even. Possibly playful. With a smirk she turned to follow her but hesitated.

Take her to Iromar. The moors. Her safe place. Invite the bringer of this confusion and conflict into the one place Despoina felt like she could both disappear and belong. She blinked in confusion at herself. Why did this matter? What difference would it really make. Slate eyes looked over the russet and tan girl, studying her hard for a moment as the truth struck Despoina. Every wolf had left her. What would make this one any different. The sly smile spread across her lips again, a different edge lighting her eyes. She thought she should warn Aurelia, but instead she padded forward, her tail wagging lazily behind her. “I suppose I will!” It would be interesting to see what the playful girl would make of the moors, and if they would come across one of the giant lizards.

The more she spoke to this girl the more confused and bewildered Despoina started to become. She opened her mouth to say yes, she could visit and then snapped it shut again. No. She had left Spirane her head high and a snarl on her lips. Only the love of her sister would bring her back across that border. This girl was not going to convince her to come back, to spend more time in the maddening mountains. Going to explore the rocks and the caves. No. She could say hello when they crossed paths. No, if they crossed paths. She would not try to make a point of seeing this young wolf.

A weird twisting sensation started in her stomach. Something felt wrong, but something felt good. She looked at this girl and wondered who she would be in a few years. Wondered if she, too would get tired of the mountains of Spirane. If she visited who would they both be in a few years? Why did this seem to matter to her. It was the strangest feeling Despoina had ever felt and it made her want to tear something to shreds and then rip those shreds to smithereens. This was not what she wanted. It was wrong. She was strong, she was uncaring. Nothing could touch her without fear of being attacked. But Aurelia’s tail flicked her shoulder, and the snap she gave in return was smooth and sly, friendly even. Possibly playful. With a smirk she turned to follow her but hesitated.

Take her to Iromar. The moors. Her safe place. Invite the bringer of this confusion and conflict into the one place Despoina felt like she could both disappear and belong. She blinked in confusion at herself. Why did this matter? What difference would it really make. Slate eyes looked over the russet and tan girl, studying her hard for a moment as the truth struck Despoina. Every wolf had left her. What would make this one any different. The sly smile spread across her lips again, a different edge lighting her eyes. She thought she should warn Aurelia, but instead she padded forward, her tail wagging lazily behind her. “I suppose I will!” It would be interesting to see what the playful girl would make of the moors, and if they would come across one of the giant lizards.