Auri had not mistaken the invitation, as it was more of a command. However, the illusion of choice is always a nice thing to have. She watches as the black beast turns her back and returns to the emerald sea of blades. The little fawn girl wants to run for her life. But, her interest had been equally piqued. She had seen very little of this corner of land and she wanted to know more. Surprisingly she finds herself following in the black queen’s wake. Dainty paws had eased into steady yet silent trot before her sharp brain had finished processing all her open options. Well, she thinks to herself, it must be time for another daylight starwalk.

There is a … heaviness to this place. Auri could feel it. Was it coming from her captor? Or was this a new friend. In truth, Auri did not know what this situation was or who this beast was. But whoever she was, she was magnificent, and Auri wanted to take a closer look at what sort of wolves this beast would call family or ally. Would that not be fun to find out? Wouldn’t dieing be the ultimate adventure? A twisted smile spreads across her lips as she keeps her indigo eyes on the earth in front of her paws, clearly clouded and lost in her own memories again. Her father and mother had always worried that she wouldn’t survive. She was the runt in her litter, she was told she would be lucky to make it past one, two, three years? By the time her fourth birthday dawned, she was a little sick and tired of being referred to ‘as the little delicate flower’.

Why does the lamb wish to lie next to the lion? Why would the rabbit run straight into parted jaws of a predator? Do we all seek to know our own deaths? Or are we all just too afraid of life to live it?

The black female lowers herself and howls. Clearly this is her favorite place, and Auri feels the honour of being invited to this inner sanctum. She waits for a few moments and drinks in the magic of this place. Amethyst eyes naturally look to the sea lapping against the cliff below before trailing up to the horizon and the skies beyond. She watches the birds swoop and fly with the clouds. Woe to all who stop at the horizon. She has noted the invitation to sit and Auri makes herself comfortable near the cliff edge. One cream paw draped over the edge, perhaps a little haphazardly for some mother’s liking. But Auri, and her entire family has always been in tune with nature. She can feel the grass tussocks weaving the sand together tightly with their roots. They will sling to this cliff for dear life and it would take more than little Auri to make them fall.

She turns her calm gaze towards her host's face where she gazes into the beast's eyes for a few long seconds. Auri is surprised by the wolfess’ line of enquiry. Clearly she did not like to leave her home often. The little fawn girl takes a deep breath of sea air and decides there was nothing wrong with a friendly chat. Despite her father’s words echoing in the back of her head that knowledge is power.

“I’m not from these lands,” she whispers, intending for the two adult females to be the only living beings privy to this conversation. “My homelands are on the other side of that mountain,” she indicates with her nose towards Spirane. “Four weeks journey minimum,” she narrows her eye at her new friend before correcting herself, “No doubt Three to Two weeks for someone like you and your kin.” Charm came naturally to her and her family, it was one of the only things that stopped their necks being snapped between bigger teeth.

Auri narrows her eyes further, wondering how much she should reveal. She likes the cloak of secrets she has managed to weave and wear for herself over the last 6 years. It gives her a freedom and impunity she had never had before. “My family lived in the center,” she pauses as she tries to find the right words, “Packlands?” I guess that was the best way of describing their ancestral circumstances. “My father is ... “ she trails off as she realizes that she hadn’t seen or heard from him in a few years now. “He was a good diplomatic man.” There’s a tug on her heartstrings as she begins to regret chasing off every messenger he has sent for her. But, she was determined to follow her own path, not one that someone had already planned out for her.

She tilts her head to one side and smiles sweetly at her host, “I speak Gaelic, and a little bit of other things here and there.” She has the distinct feeling that this larger female will not tolerate her dancing around the points all evening. “This year's spring melts have been brutal. Perhaps you should come out for a walk with me later this evening.”

A howl in the near distance rumbles through her lungs and she decides to add a little more sheepishly, “You could bring some of your family?” Best not to tread on the toes of someone who has been more than generous. The silence that descends between them does not last long before Auri adds, “Besides, my friend?” There is a subconscious flicker of her right eyebrow. “I noticed that you did not give me a title or name to refer to you by?” She smiles coyly. Praying that her cheekiness will not spell her end. Her left eye trails below to the waves and seaspray, that would be a long way to fall back to mother moon.