When her whisper fades, her heart rate quickens like a hummingbird beating wild and free in her narrow chest. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to announce herself to the stranger, but she can’t help the swell of excitement that starts her eyes to searching the trees, hoping for a glimpse of the intruder. Unlike Heretic, Leto is a social creature, and the months with no company save that of her surly brother had given birth to a loneliness she isn’t used to, a yearning for companionship and idle conversation. As much as she loved her brother, his idea of talk was to scold her for overexerting herself or grumble about this or that. Not exactly what one had in mind when they thought of pleasant chatter.

She doesn’t have to wait for the stranger very long; he steps from the shadows like an apparition, his pale fur glowing against the darkness. The moonlight breaking through the trees gives off the impression that he is glowing, a silvery beacon with a grin stretched across his face. Her blue eyes follow him, the splash of pink electrified by the same light that gives him his otherworldly glow. She’s startled into a smile by his words, glancing away from him to collect her thoughts. Her brother would be furious with her, but she is fascinated by the stranger already. She’d met so few besides her own pack, how could he blame her?

”I must be a magical rose,” she quips, the uneasiness draining away, only to be replaced by a strange feeling - like a flutter of a thousand butterflies performing a waltz in her belly. ”I’ve never heard of a talking flower.”

A beat of silence falls between them and she finds herself listening for her brother, hoping he doesn’t come back quite yet. She’s not sure he’ll react as kindly to the stranger and she’s not so keen on scaring him off just yet. After a moment for which there is no sound but her steady breathing and that of the newcomer, she relaxes and steps closer to him, curiosity urging her forward like a moth to the flame. He is larger than her, something she is quite accustomed to, but he smells like wilderness and another scent… It makes her stomach rumble but she ignores the hunger, reminding herself that Heretic would be back soon with plenty of food.

”I’m Leto.” She doesn’t tell him about her brother, too superstitious to mention his name and bring him running. Speak of the devil, and all… ”I was just having a bit of a rest, but you can join me. That is, if you promise not to eat me,” she teases, dropping to her haunches and glancing at the dirt beside her in invitation.