Through the spring wind and rain the Pariah did not take any notice of a wolf approaching. There was nothing she could do. If it had come to take her, so be it. If it was just passing by, why should she hope? The voice that came to her small soft ears was startling. She jumped in surprise, which turned into a flinch of habit. She could not understand the kindness, and when she looked up she did so with baby-blue eyes tainted with red.

At first she shrunk back, away from the kind voice that already comforted her. There was nothing good that could come from her telling the truth. Even at her age she knew death was a curse. Speaking of, causing it, was just as bad. Gone… She whimpered into the rain. It was not a lie, but it did not tell the truth of her part. Hesitantly, scared and ashamed, got to her paws. Head held low, she dared not look up at the woman. Fear that she was only dreaming was too great for her to find the strength to look up. A command though, the command to stand, was something she could know. On her paws, she looked around her. This could be where she belonged, standing in the rain she dared not move lest the consequence of such an action be dire. Puppy fuzz could not protect her against the water that started to sink to her skin. Her entire body was shivering, but that only proved life. Clenching her eyes closed, her face still pointed to the ground, she could not stop the soft whine that came from her. She could not stop the aches and the cold that was slowly starting to grip her tiny body.