The kindness that poured from the white wolf was like a toxic blanket that seeped into the stone girl’s body. Long dark threads of desire and dare coursed through her very veins. She yearned to accept this woman’s kindness but knew it would only destroy them both in the end. As Amber approached, Pariah nearly fell all over herself in a desperate attempt to get further away. She pressed herself against the rocks she had just seconds ago been so happy to find. The blood red hackles that collared her neck lifted in instinctual warning. There was a danger here, and that danger was her.

Curling even tighter onto herself, she stared fearfully up at Liquid Amber. You don’t understand! She died! She died in all the blood! And it was my fault! It will happen again! The memories of twisted faces blood stained and spattered. The pale rust droplets rolling off gaping teeth to land on her crying face. Once a thing of beauty had twisted into that of suffering. All signs and all sayings had pointed that it had been her doing. She dared not bring about the pain to another.

Pariah’s little body continued to quiver under the eyes of Liquid Amber. The terror was clear on the puppy’s face. She had come out of hiding, she had a moment of happiness, and it had been dashed. A lovely she-wolf was going to feel the weight of the the death Pariah seemed to spread. Please...please let me go. She whimpered quietly. Her eyes flicked to and fro, searching almost endlessly for a way out and a way to escape. She wanted a dark cold den. It was her safe place. It was a place to be safe.