She should be used to it by now, that she knows, and yet the loneliness of her life seldom seems to settle. Alone on the borders, she suddenly sees how long and deep the shadows of the world are and how easily they consume everything they touch; she feels how vast the sky is above and how empty it seems now that she cannot hear the calls and barks of those she knows. She feels the cold in her paws, a coldness that carves its way through her bones and muscles, reminding her of the warmth she chose to leave behind. It almost makes her choke on a breath as she is driven to recall the price lines of her mother and father's faces, suddenly afraid to imagine the changes they might have undergone. Has her mother gained new stars - new, grey stars speckled on her muzzle like a constellation drawn by wisdom? Has her father's voice grown tired now? Has it grown weary from years of being so proud and strong? The thought makes her quiver and yet, she must do this. She must begin to find some new path in this world, destined to orbit further and further away from her blood.
She sees him finally, a dark shadow that breaks through the tall grass of Asteraia with such practiced ease. She does her best to stand straighter, stronger and more confident, her blood reminding itself of Azrael's pride. She feels awkawrd posing in such a way, feigning a confidence though she swims in a torrent of uncertainty and questions; he waves his tail and she relaxes, content to sigh out the awkward nature of her demeanour. She stands more naturally now, her head falling slowly into a tilt as she waves her own tail in response, her yellow eyes once more roaming over the boy's face in search of understanding.
He is a strange creature, this much she knows, for he moves in unusual ways; he mimics her after several moments, his smile broad and startling compared to the small, gentle grin of her own. They are stark opposites in these moments. He is dark and confident, a shadow deep and long and she is but a pale ghost, half here and half submerged in the past.
She is given to smile more broadly as he speaks, forcing himself into a posture that seems all too unnatural for a wolf of his caliber. Still, she allows a small chuckle to escape her lips though she silently questions his behavior. There is an oddity in his choice to do so and she wonders, then, if she shall meet him again and see him wearing that same posture, a practiced display of acting to feign something he may very well lack. "You could very well be my shadow," she muses, imitating his prior actions as her head cranes and tilts in order to inspect him from each possible angle, just as he had done to her. It only feels... correct to follow his suit and fall into mimicry.
Finally, she pauses all her actions and settles her eyes on his. "You know why I have come," she finally utters, her voice gentle and ever so pleasant, "tell me what it means. Please, for I have grown so very curious." She bows her head, a small gesture of submission and good will, and then she falls silent with pursed lips, her breath caught in suspense as she waits for something.