All was right in the world.

It had started that fateful day in the middle of a blizzard when a princeling had saved me from certain suffocation. Then when I had arrived home to find my brother at my den. This would be a year of growth, I decided. I would once more find the base within me that was settled and happy. My parents would have wanted that. So I had re-gathered plenty of herbs, despite how most had shriveled in the drought, overstocking those that lined the rivers and their smaller borders.

But when I heard Israfel's voice rising in the air my body had begun to tingle. I knew by something much stronger than instinct that it was him. It excited me and I tried to pretend nonchalance but eventually I had to admit. I was excited to see him again. I had thought of him often as I lay in my den at night, alone, wishing I had someone to press up against and share comfort with. So as the day dawned where there would be a gathering I was eagerly stepping away from Glorall onto the dry rushes, their hollow stalks snapping beneath my black tipped paws.

I find the trail he marked with ease, despite being a less than impressive tracker, and I stumble upon the group with wide eyes. I hear him intoning a creepy intro to a story and then the resulting answer from another female, my eyes roaming to her in surprise before I slowly ease my way towards the front. That way I can sit right where Israfel can see me and I can see him. I don't know why that is so important to me but I feel this aching connection to him and a desire to be closer. To let him know I was here. When I finally sit I am looking up at him, black-tipped tail wrapping around my haunches, normal and floppy ear up, and an encouraging smile on my face.