FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter II

Okhotna ascended a grassy hill overlooking the village from the northeast. The nearly constant wind ruffled her bare fur like the grass beneath their paws. Her long hair blew behind her with the breeze. The cream furred wolf shielded her eyes from the gusts and sun peeking behind several clouds. However, her focus was not on the village behind her, but on a group of sheep trotting and running around. A female border collie soon appeared behind the sheep, running swiftly as she herded them across the hillside.

'Wow. Look at her run.' Okhotna was always impressed by the collie's speed and agility. "Laima!" The wolf yelled and waved. The border collie quickly pulled away from the herd of sheep and darted over to the wolf.

"Hey!" She breathlessly spoke with her tongue lolling out. Despite a few pants to catch her breath, the border collie had plenty of energy to keep running.

"You're herding by yourself, right?" The cream furred wolf looked around.

"Yep." She breathed and place deer hands on her hips. "My husband is in the village right now, but he's coming out here with me soon... Where have you been recently? I heard that you went with Eriu to the mountains yesterday."

"Yes. About that... She walked with me to the mountains, but I want you to keep this a secret." Okhotna looked at her friend seriously.

"Okay?" The collie tilted her head curiously.

"She showed me a baby dragon, and wants me to teach it how to fly."

"A baby dragon!?" Laima's eyes popped open as she gawked at Okhotna.

"Sh!" The archer hushed the border collie even though they were alone in a field of sheep. "I don't want anyone else to know. Elder Eriu doesn't want any rumor or news started about it."

"Not even the sheep?" She giggled.

"I trust your sheep." The wolf half grinned to her friend's amusement.

"But wow, I had no idea what you were with a baby dragon yesterday." The border collie gazed towards the distant Eastern Mountains. "What was that like?"

"It was exciting to see a real living dragon." She grinned. "But I'm not sure how I feel about it yet."

"Are you going to tell your sister?"

"I don't know..." She rubbed her neck as her hair blew behind her from the wind. "I just left her house earlier, but I'm afraid she'll want to tell Aonghas or something."

"I'm sure Aisling will understand if you tell her."

"Hmm. I might later on." The wolf thought aloud. "I don't like holding secrets. You're my best friend, so I wanted to tell you about it."

"You're secrets are safe with me!" Laima smiled and gave a thumbs up. "My husband doesn't like prying into anyone's personal business anyway, so he won't ask."

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Okhotna grinned appreciatively. "I was going to ask if you wanted to go with me when I return to the Dragon Ravine."

"It sounds fun." The collie's bright eyes gleamed for a moment. "I'd really love to go with you, but I can't. It'll take nearly a whole day, and then my husband will ask where I've been. I can't lie to him if I tried." She half frowned. "It's nothing personal."

"Oh, it's okay. I just wanted to ask." Okhotna was a little dismayed. "Maybe when the dragon learns to fly I won't have to keep this a secret." The cream furred wolf spoke aloud.

"Maybe." Laima hoped the best for her friend. "But why does elder Eriu want you to teach a baby dragon how to fly? I know you can't fly." The collie giggled to herself at the idea.

"Yeah that would make hunting a little more interesting." Okhotna found it funny. "Eriu found the baby dragon there by itself, and she believed the mother abandoned it. It was too young to fly so she tried helping out by visiting and occasionally feeding it. I don't know how long she has been doing this, but she believes I will be able to help him fly."

"Wow." The collie still blinked in surprise. "What do you plan on doing?"

"I have no clue, but I'm going back to the Dragon Ravine in a few days."

"I'm sure you will think of something. You're quick witted and smart." Laima offered her optimism.

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Okhotna felt some relief that her friend had strong faith in her.

"Just speaking the truth." She smiled all the same. "Wanna help me before you go back to the village? I need to herd the sheep over to the next hill." Laima gestured.

"Sure!" The wolf didn't hesitate to assist her friend. Okhotna had herded sheep with the border collie before, but that was back when they were pups or adolescents just having fun. In her mid twenties, would it be that tiring?

"Let's go!" The border collie ran with the wolf towards the flock. The grazing sheep were quick to react. Despite having stout fluffy bodies, they were fast on their hooves and very agile. The entire flock moved like a wave of air through tall grasses. Laima and Okhotna ran in wide arcs, and then cut sharply, careful not to let any of them stray into a neighboring field of wheat. The cream furred wolf could feel her long hair blowing behind her, and her chest bouncing from all of the movement. However, the wide grin splayed across her muzzle was evident of how much fun she was having. The archer was quickly tired by the time they ascended the adjacent hill. The bleating sheep were quick to calm down once the running had ceased.

"I'm already tired." Okhotna leaned forward and caught her breath.

"That's fine!" Laima briskly spoke wearing a joyful smile. "We got the sheep to this hill."

"Thank goodness... You could outpace a deer!" The wolf said.

"I don't know about a deer..." She rubbed her fluffy neck with a sense of pride. "But thanks for your help." Laima patted the wolf's back. Okhotna stood up straight in a brief stretch.

"You're welcome." She exhaled, glad to have caught her breath. "I'll talk to you soon." The cream furred wolf said before departing for the village. Descending the green hills, the archer approached a corn field and wheat field that bordered the creek. A pair of farmers were at the corner of one field with their toddler son playing in the dirt. The pup was crouching down at a hole in the dirt digging with his hands while they chatted, leaning onto their garden hoes as if they were walking staffs. It was a common sight for the rural village. The parents looked over and waved as Okhotna passed by. She returned a wave and after crossing the creek.

Before entering the village, she passed by Urusa, the grey fox who had recently approached her, and Umaic, another villager carrying a fishing net. Urusa didn't say anything, but the archer felt his gaze on her back. Okhotna passed by the first homes wistful in thought about her new responsibility.

'I don't want to bother Aisling with this.' She glanced up at the sky. 'I already told Lamia, and that's one person too many.' Her nose wiggled in thought. 'I don't even want to tell her about why hunting hasn't been going well...'

"Hello? Okhotna!" Okhotna's ears finally registered an older voice calling out to her. The archer turned her head and noticed an older female wolf named Falara with silver and dark grey fur sitting just a few steps away from her. Her body build was sturdier than the cream furred wolf, but her breasts were a similar large size hanging below. She was sitting on a low stool and hand washing something in a bucket. Several steps away her husband, a grizzle furred brown wolf was smoothing out a large roughly hewn oak lot with a hand axe. He paused for a moment to give a polite wave before resuming his work.

"Sorry Falara, I didn't even see you sitting there." Okhotna offered an apology with a smile.

"Oh, it's alright. I can tell you are deep in thought." She grinned and pulled her soapy hands out of the bucket.

"Me?" She pointed at herself. "It's nothing! How are you doing?"

"I'm alright!" She energetically beamed. "I wanted to ask what your favorite color was for the autumn equinox." Falara asked.

"Oh. Um. I think I like red. That's a good color."

"Red it is then." The older female wolf nodded and thanked her before resuming her wash. Okhotna meandered her way through the village one again.

'I didn't even think about the autumn equinox.' The archer thought to herself. The celebrations of the changing seasons were a strong set of traditions dating back generations to the village's tribal past. The ceremony initiating the fall involved body painting and cleansing in the creek beside the village. Elder Eriu performed a special kind of magic to celebrate the seasonal change as well. Body painting was very common for the village, and used during both equinoxes and the summer solstice. However, during the colder weather, it was usually not performed.

The wolf's thoughts meandered as the village's sights, sounds, and even smells caught her attention. The warm trace scents of fresh bread cooking in the hearth of one home wafted in the air.

'Mm.' The wolf hummed to herself at the pleasant aroma. She passed by a group of four pups crouched down by a circle drawn in the dirt. They were playing a game she had played as a pup.

"All moons!"

"No, all stars!" Another excitedly waited to throw. They occasionally cheered and shouted as they three a handful of carved sticks into the circle. Three carved sides represented different celestial shapes, and the objective was correctly guessing how many would land within the circle from one throw. A red wolf mother with long light brown hair named Laoga was standing nearby. She was cradling a pup at her breast while talking to a friend, but had an ear listening for any mischief the pups might partake in.

Passing by a few other homes, Okhotna found herself walking to elder Eriu's house. Nearby, a group of elders were chatting stories amongst themselves ranging from spectacular hunts to how much things have changed in their time. All three had been hunters during their youth, like the golden archer, and middle age; but were now the last generation of a previous era. All of them had taught the archer valuable lessons about hunting, tracking, and archery.

Okhotna approached the entryway, but didn't hear anything inside. The wolf noticed that a small message scroll was in the elder's drop box. She curiously tilted her head, wondering what the message contained.

"Are you looking for Eriu?" One of the elder males seated nearby asked.

"Oh. Yes. Is she not home, Suwen?" She answered the brown and white furred wolf with plenty of silver fur ticked around his muzzle, and face.

"She went into one of the fields east of the village with her daughter and grandchildren." He pointed in the general direction.

"We saw them leave earlier." Abotka the male dhole holding a modest walking staff by his side added. Powena, female grey wolf, seated with them nodded in confirmation. She had small breasts covered in white fur with wide naked skin towards the bottom, but they could not escape the effects of age and sagged with a flat smoothness. She only wore a necklace with wooden medallions, each baring a carved pattern.

"Ah, okay. Thank you for telling me."

"Did you need to talk with her?" Powena spoke up. "We can tell her you came by."

"Um. No, I just wanted to talk. I can come again later." The archer insisted before turning away.

"Please keep up the tradition of hunting!" Suwen called out only for the elder female beside him to smack his arm.

"Hush you. She doesn't need badger-mouth teller her what to do." She scolded him much to Okhotna's amusement.

"Thank you, I will!" The cream furred wolf happily smiled and left elder Eriu's house. 'They're a funny bunch.' Okhotna smiled to herself, but wondered what to do next. 'Hmm. I can't really talk openly to Eriu when she is with her family.' The wolf wondered what to do next. The sun was high in the sky marking noon, and that left her with half a day to herself. Returning to her house, the cream furred wolf had an idea.

'Since it's noon, I'll cover a few trails for the day.' She looked at her bow and rubbed her chin. 'And I'll carry these just in case I come across something.' The wolf wasn't expecting much, but it would give her time to freely roam the countryside. She slipped on her quiver full of arrows, and grabbed her bow before heading back outside.

"Let's go-" As soon as she brushed past the leather curtain, a figure suddenly came into view. "Arias?" Okhotna nearly bumped into the mottled grey wolf standing at her home's entrance.

"Oh! Hey! You're home." He looked surprised to see her.

"Yes, I live here." She half grinned. "But I'm heading out for the rest of the afternoon." She shrugged a shoulder and her bow in hand. The cream furred wolf took a step around the mottled grey wolf only for him to speak up again.

"Wait." He spoke nervously. The archer's blue eyes blinked as she looked at him. "Hey, um..." The wolf began only to hesitate.

"What?" She could tell he wanted to say something he felt was important.

"Can I go with you while you hunt?" He asked. Okhotna blinked once again at the question. She had been asked that question over and over countless times for several years by potential suitors. The archer had plenty of males try and follow her during a hunt, but she was quick to outpace them or lose them through various means. Was Arias seeking to become another suitor to her?

"Sure, you can follow me." She plainly offered. 'If you can keep up.' The wolf silently added.

"Thank you!" He said with an audible sigh of relief mingled with excitement. "Do I need to bring anything?"

"Nope." She stated and led him out of the village, waving or greeting other villagers that they passed along the way. Okhotna went to the southeast where a visible path passed through gentle rolling fields, and scattered pines trees. Few villagers worked in the area. The fields were seldom used for grazing an there were no farms within sight. The archer only saw two female wolves tending to a large blueberry bush closer towards the village.

She spotted a mountain lioness ahead on the pathway walking towards her, carrying a basket full of bright red berries in one hand. The feline only wore a small armband below her shoulder, but was otherwise nude like everyone else from the region. She was athletic like Laima, but not as slim or sleek. Her white furred breasts were youthfully well rounded, and her upper body had noticeable strength for a feline. The light brown and white furred mountain lioness was also not married, like Okhotna.

"Hey Okhotna!"

"Hi Persephone." The archer stopped and smiled at her good friend.

"Who's following you?" She watched the male wolf approaching them.

"It's Arias. He wanted to follow me while I hunt, but I haven't told him that I'm not hunting." She lowered her voice and winked.

"Ohh. Okay." Persephone slowly nodded. "Hey Arias." She grinned as he caught up to them.

"Hello." He gave a kind smile in return.

"I'll talk to you later then. You two have fun!" The feline said as she walked up the pathway towards the village. Okhotna swished her tail in minor annoyance and resumed walking down the pathway. Up ahead the pathway cut through a wide field of tall grasses. It stretched far into the distance, and bordered by rugged rocky hills to the east as well as the gentler forested slopes leading to the southern mountains to the west. The wolf took a hand and drew her palm over the gently swaying tufts of grass that reached her waist, and the few that managed to reach up to her chest. The path eventually meandered across the entire field to a road that led to Aramog, the closest town to her village.

Glancing over her shoulder, she found Arias following her at a comfortable distance. His gaze seemed interested in the tall grass as much as her, but she couldn't exactly tell.

"Hmm..." Okhotna's nose wiggled in thought as she continued walking along the pathway. Further ahead she could see an important landmark. Old stone ruins covered the hill that once stood as tall buildings of an ancient place whose name was long forgotten. At first glance the low hilltop rising above the tall grass seemed unimportant, merely a dot of history amongst the surrounding nature. However, the final standing structure in the center was very important despite appearing deceptive to the naked eye.

The cream furred wolf veered from the path and walked through the tall grass to the ruins. Okhotna's triangular ears flickered hearing Arias follow her into the tall grass several steps behind. She quickly reached the ruins upon the hill where the overgrowth was more visible. Vines crept along the bases of many stones, covering a few completely. Weeds and colorful wildflowers dotted nooks and small spaces. Her fingers lightly traced over the stonework as her paws carefully treaded over low foundations and scattered stones and bricks. Despite her unique surroundings, the ruins were largely overlooked as natural scenery due to the central structure's importance.

Okhotna approached a single tall archway remained standing at the center of the hilltop amongst the ruins. At first glance it resembled a worn away remnant of something once grand like the rest of the rubble. However, looking into the archway revealed an entirely different world. The sight of still grass and trees in the sunlight almost appeared like a living portrait inside its stone frame. A bird caught the wolf's eye as it flew from one wall of the arch to the other before disappearing from view. Subsequent tweeting from inside revealed that what she saw had not been her imagination.

The stone arch was in fact a portal and people used them to travel between distant regions. There were more portals in the area, notably one east of the village, and each one connected their land with different regions of far away places. They varied in height, but the south one Okhotna stood before was more than twice her height at its apex. Another path on the other side of the hill connected to the road farther away through the tall grass.

The cream furred wolf stepped forward and walked right through the opening, feeling nothing different than if she had passed through an open doorway. It was a deceiving sensation. The landscape had changed all around her. The hilltop of ruins and wide tall grass field surrounding her had vanished. Okhotna was now staring at several fruiting bushes and tall oak trees. The noises of the chirping bird returned to her ears as the bright sunlight warmed her fur. There was no wind blowing her hair, and the once partly cloudy sky had become bright blue without a cloud in sight.

The pathway before her had disappeared leaving only grass and carpets of moss at her paws. A large town existed nearby, but it wasn't frequently traveled to by most because of the inhabitants' disdain of open nudity.

The cream furred wolf walked back through the portal and returned to the ruins atop the low hill. A strong gust of wind whipped through her fur and blew her hair around. Shielding her eyes, she scanned the surrounding field. The tall grasses bobbed like a wave in a tempest.

"Better not dawdle here too long..." She began walking away only to pause as another idea came to mind. Okhotna glanced around for a moment before spotting Arias nearby. Her brown tipped tail swished impatiently as she watched the male wolf examining the old stonework.

'Let's see if he can keep pace with me.' She wiggled her nose in thought.

"This way!" Okhotna called out and waved. His head perked up before hastily climbing over a fallen column. She hurried across the tall grass to the nearest cliffs and hills that lead up into the southern mountains. There was a narrow passage between the two low cliffs that she could ascend to reach higher elevations. A few large stones were partially buried in the ground as the grassy incline increased.

The archer began marching up with Arias climbing the narrow passage behind her, albeit at a slower pace. The last two steps were nearly a vertical climb over a stone between the narrowing passage, but Okhotna climbed up and over them without difficulty while carrying her bow between her teeth. Holding her bow in hand once again, she stopped and looked over her shoulder, but didn't see Arias ascend yet. Her ears swiveled, but her gut told her to return. The cream furred wolf walked back to the top of the slope and low overhanging cliff. Arias was holding onto the stone in an awkward position while looking up at her.

"Hey." He nervously grinned.

"Here." She knelt down and offered a hand.

"Thanks." He grabbed ahold and she helped pull him up.

"The southern mountains aren't difficult to navigate, but there are a few tricky shortcuts."

"No kidding." He looked back down at the grassy field and ruins before following her to the closest trees. Okhotna's swishing tail nearly distracted him enough to run into a small thorn bush.

"So uh, do you like hunting here a lot?" He quietly asked as they entered the hilly shaded forest.

"I can't think of a more beautiful place to be this time of year." The archer replied. Arias nearly bumped into the archer as she suddenly stopped between two large trees growing closely together.

'Hmm...' She stood between the two trees, placing a palm on one. Okhotna smelled the bark, but didn't detect any trace scents that were fresh. "Sorry. I thought I smelled something." She quickly apologized and continued moving.

"It's fine!" Arias blew a hard sigh feeling lucky that he hadn't run into her. The cream furred wolf bent forward and walked underneath a fallen tree limb. Her breasts subtly swayed from her movements until she stood upright once again. She could hear Arias following her as quietly as he could.

'He's doing just fine.' Okhotna hopped over the fallen log and patch of muddy dirt with grace. Not far behind, Arias nearly stumbled over the same log and quickly walked through the mud to keep up.

***

Not far from the village, at the base of the southern mountains, Okhotna reached a small rocky area free of trees and bushes where plenty of rich green grass grew. The glistening water of a creek snaked along the grassy space from the rocks. Her ears detected a soft rushing sound that brought a grin to the corner of her lips.

The creek spilled over several feet down to the bottom of a gulley where it continued on its way to the lowlands. A few chirping crickets were hidden somewhere in a patch of taller grass or reeds by the water's edge. However, their sounds were muffled underneath the rushing water. The wolf crept down the grassy slope and mossy stones with her blue gaze fixated on the waterfall.

'My favorite spot.' Okhotna set her bow in the grass. It was the place she normally bathed at after a successful hunt, or just an excuse to visit the southern mountains during a hot afternoon. She sat down by the little rocky creek and removed her quiver next. All of her arrows remained in her quiver as she had expected. There was nothing for her to hunt this afternoon. She dipped her paws in the cool water, and splayed her toes into the pebbles.

Arias emerged at the top of the slope with a noticeably disheveled look. A few briars were clinging to his fur. The subtle cat and mouse game lasted just over an hour, and covered much of the southern mountain trail. Snaking along the mountainside, countless hills, and forest was nothing new for the archer, but having someone tag along was fairly uncommon for her. He was a little out of breath and plopped onto the grass behind her with an audible thud.

"A few times... I thought I was going to lose track of you." He breathily spoke.

"I have to admit I'm impressed that you were able to keep up with me." Okhotna kindly grinned at the accomplishment.

"Yeah, but I wish I still had my endurance from when I was a courier." He stretched his arms up. The cream furred wolf closed her eyes and ruffled her tuft of chest fur in thought.

'He wasn't aggressive or over zealous.' She silently told herself. The afternoon was certainly far from the worst she had experienced with various suitors. Arias was a little goofy and even clumsy at times while he followed her, but the mottled grey male had been polite and friendly towards her. After sitting in thought for a while, Okhotna retrieved her bow and quiver before standing up.

"I'm heading back to the village." She waded across the little creek with shallow splashes, but stopped on the opposing side.

"You're heading back?" He sat up with a look of surprise.

"I'm normally not very fond of people wanting to chase after me, especially while I'm hunting." She told him.

"I-I know, but-"

"But I wasn't hunting today." She looked over her shoulder with a grin.

"You weren't?" He blinked and looked at her dumbfounded.

"No, I wanted to check the trails and spend some time in the southern mountains." Okhotna explained. "But I appreciated your company." She winked at him. Arias blew a sigh and laid back in the grassy slope with an audible thud as the golden archer walked back to the village.

The sharp chirps of a little wren nearby echoed through the scattered trees at the far end of the eastern fields. Hiding behind a tree, Okhotna felt the warmth of the sun on her back. Standing still with her bow in hand, arrow already notched, her blue eyed gaze focused on the unsuspecting bird just a few meters away. It's colorful feathers were pretty for adornments, but was a delicious meal when properly cooked. The wren continued chirping incessantly as it flew from branch to branch, a sign that the archer was still unseen.

The pheasant slowly walked along the grass, pecking occasionally at the ground. Okhotna slowly raised her bow in hand. Her fingers silently gripped the bow's string, and carefully drew it back into a graceful arc. The pheasant stopped walking and looked up. In a fluid motion she released her fingers allowing the bowstring to snap forward. Her arrow sailed through the air unseen. A brief noise erupted, but the bird only managed to fly for a moment before falling into the grass by a large ash tree. The air became silent as a few little birds nearby scattered from the trees and grass.

"Got it." The cream furred wolf grinned and walked from behind the tree to the tall wild grass. She knelt down and removed her arrow before proudly picking up her catch. The archer paused and flicked her ear. In an instant she jumped over and hid behind the large ash tree. She stood silently for a moment, but only heard the thumping of her heart.

'Was somebody following me?' She peered around the tree suspiciously. Her blue eyes combed through the closest trees, underbrush, and grass. There was no movement she could see. A squirrel scuttled up a nearby tree to safety, but no crunching footsteps or other obvious sounds caught her ears

'Must have been my imagination.' Okhotna reasoned, but still felt a lingering doubt as she checked over her shoulder and walked away. The archer didn't normally care if someone approached her after she caught something, as rare as that was, but she didn't plan on returning to the village for a while. The wolf didn't meander around the area, and only the occasional chattering bird made her ears turn. The cream furred wolf passed the final willow tree and arrived at the entrance to the Dragon Ravine.

'It's incredible that this passageway exists.' Okhotna stared up at the giant mountainsides looming above like giants. Despite being at the base of the mountains, light could still reach close to the bottom. The wolf brushed her hand over a neighboring bush and entered the naturally formed passage. Okhotna crossed through the secret little ravine that Eriu had shown her, and arrived at the wide shallow creek. The return of lush greenery in her sights was comforting and familiar compared to the narrow chasm behind her. Setting aside her bow and fresh catch, the cream furred wolf knelt down and washed her hands and face. Cupping her hands, she lapped up some water. Okhotna exhaled and felt refreshed from the cool water.

'Dragons naturally fly, so this should only take a matter of time, right?' She gazed ahead at the neighboring young trees, and thought to herself. Rising from the water's edge, the archer crossed with little splashes. After walking through undergrowth and over a patch of ferns, Okhotna ascended the rocky path on the edge of the cliffside mountains. After climbing higher, she reached the mouth of the cave that overlooked part of the wider valley.

The wolf found a familiar little figure sunbathing on the rocks. She stopped as his head perked up. The little dragon scurried away much to her surprise, and hid deeper into the cave.

"Hey, wait!" She called after him and ran into the cave. Her blue eyes focused in the dimly lit space, and saw him crawl into a small crevice. The wolf quietly crept closer. His long neck peeped out hesitantly at first only to quickly duck back inside. Okhotna crouched down onto all fours and crawled up to the small opening.

"Don't you remember me? I visited you with Eriu several days ago." Peering down, she could barely see the dragon curled up towards a wall, hiding from her. A cool sensation touching made her pause. The archer looked down at her breasts naturally hanging from her chest where they barely brushed over the cave floor. She remembered the accidental bite very well, rose up, and held both protectively with a hand.

'Eriu made this look very easy.' Okhotna sat back and started wondering what she could do. After thinking for a moment her eyes lit up with an idea. 'Ah, the fruit!' She remembered and slipped off her pack. Retrieving a ruby red colored fruit, the wolf dangled it before the opening. It didn't take long before a snout became visible. In seconds, the dragon dove out of the little hiding place and snatched the fruit from her hand. Okhotna smiled as he devoured the fruit with happy gurgled chirps.

"Hello." She kindly greeted the little dragon. His tufted tail wagged excitedly as he looked up at her. "Wanna crawl up?" She held out her arm and placed her hand on the ground, palm up. He cautiously smelled her palm before crawling onto her hand.

"You're much smarter than I first thought." She whispered and stood up. The dragon peered up at her before climbing up her arm to smell her cheek fur and hair. The wolf softly grinned as the dragon crawled over her back and inspected her quiver next.

"There's nothing in there for you." Okhotna promised, and felt him climb onto her other shoulder. He looked around using his long neck before gazing down her front. He crawled down her chest and settled into her awaiting arms. However, his nose curiously prodded at her chest.

"No biting." She declared with a firm voice, and a low growl. The dragon seemed to understand and did not try nibbling on any exposed skin this time. His head gently nudged her large breast instead before resting on top of the furry bosom.

"Aww... Like an infant." She grinned fondly at the small creature coddled in her arms. His eyes blinked peacefully a few times before closing to take a nap. Okhotna watched his head subtly rise and fall with every breath she took.

"Motherhood... I guess I'm built for that stuff." She half mumbled to herself. The wolf was content for the moment, and simply looked around the interior of the cave before gradually walking back outside. Her eyes quickly readjusted to the subtle sting of sunlight. Okhotna approached the top of the overhanging cliff. The landscape was a beautiful sight, just like on the other side of the ravine. From the little vantage point she could see the smooth hills and patches of forests in the middle of the ravine. The wolf could glimpse a small river snaking through the bare low rolling hills, and what might have been a marsh close by. The ravine didn't look cold and bare like the eastern mountains from what she could see. She gently pet the dragon's head when he stirred from his quick nap.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to help you learn how to fly." The wolf wondered aloud. Running around and jumping came to mind, but neither was the same thing. And possibly getting smacked in the face by her own breasts wasn't very appealing either.

"I don't think I could shoot you from my bow." She reasoned. The dragon's head recoiled as he looked at the wolf, and then her bow nearby. He gave a small snort in protest. "No. I wouldn't do that. You're too sweet." The wolf giggled and gently pet his folded wings.

"Your feathers are soft." She admired them. "If you spread your wings, then you can fly." Okhotna took ahold of him in her hands. She held him up into the air close to the cliff. His long neck looked down and then up with a dreaded look in his eyes. The little dragon quickly scrambled down her arms and laid across the back of her neck from shoulder to shoulder. He looked up at the sky worriedly with his long neck.

"Haha-hey! What are you doing hiding there?" She smiled and looked at him. The dragon was perched there, pressed snugly against the back of her neck. His prolonged stare up at the sky looked nervous and fearful.

"You can't be afraid of heights, you're a dragon!" Okhotna giggled and pet his tail reassuringly. The shivering dragon clung to her tightly anyway.

"It's okay. I won't throw you into the air or off a cliff." She reassured him. After a few moments he relaxed and stopped shivering. Okhotna wasn't sure what she could do with him for the time being. She had scared the dragon, and the likelihood he would want to try flying today was slim. Archery practice seemed like a good idea with the dragon perched on her shoulder.

"Hmm..." Her eyes wandered back to the pheasant she had killed. "Let's get the pheasant ready to cook." She suggested to take his mind off the sky above. Okhotna retrieved her knife from her quiver, and prepared the bird for cooking. The dragon jumped and bit at any stray feather that fell to the ground much to her amusement. She quickly gathered dead wood scattered around the rocky path for a fire. In short work the archer had the bird roasting above a well made fire.

"There." She grinned with her hands on her hips. "What do you think-?" Okhotna looked over and found the little dragon digging in her quiver. He pulled out an arrow and shook it like a toy.

"Hey! Get back here you!" She dove after the little dragon, but he scurried away. A chase ensued as she ran after him. The wolf managed to dive and grab the end of his tail. The arrow popped out of the dragon's jaws as he audibly chirped. He quickly turned around and nibbled on her hand, but didn't bite her.

"You are sneaky." She exhaled and picked up the stolen arrow while he was distracted. "Sorry to grab your tail like that, but you can't have my arrows to munch on." She tapped the shaft in her hand. The dragon jumped onto her leg, threatening to climb up and steal it again.

"Ah!" She laughed and held the arrow higher. "You can't have it!" The little dragon made a run for her quiver, but she quickly ran over to grab them first. She was quickly chased by the dragon. Okhotna laughed as she ran around the cave with her quiver full of arrows in hand. Eventually the chase ended and the cream furred wolf sat down at the mouth of the cave with the dragon in her arms.

"You're too cute for your own good." She smiled and pet his head. He stood on her lap and stomach for a few moments before hopping off and laying down by the crackling fire. It would take some time for the pheasant to fully cook. Okhotna stared at the flames as an idea came to mind.

"C'mon. Let's explore." She rose to her paws, and waved for him to come with her. The dragon quickly climbed up her leg and side to her shoulder. "How often am I going to have an opportunity like this?" Okhotna descended the rocky pathway and returned to the young forest below. The wolf stayed in the denser underbrush and kept close to the bottom of the cliff face. Even though dragons were rare to see, she was in the aptly named Dragon Ravine. Glancing at her shoulder, she grinned at the dragon looking around with keen eyes. Okhotna felt reassured with the little dragon on her shoulder despite the potential danger of encountering much larger ones.

The archer crouched down at a large section of bare dirt. She traced a finger over the soft dirt, creating a little pattern.

"I don't see any clear signs of large animals living here." Okhotna wasn't sure if the same animals even inhabited the ravine. Although, one patch of dirt wasn't conclusive. Jumping deer were notoriously difficult to track using their footprints alone. Rams would likely stay in higher elevations where stone and rock offered little evidence of their presence.

Her paw steps were quiet as she wandered through a group of pine and ash trees next. Everything around her was quiet and peaceful. A subtle breeze barely rustled the leaves, and humming chirps of crickets softly echoed from the grasses around her. Blue eyes blinked in surprise as she spotted white stone through the trees. Okhotna pulled aside youthful branches and walked ahead curiously. In a little clearing beneath the looming cliffs she found a small group of ruins in the sunlight. A few white stone blocks and bricks were scattered in the grass. The remnant of a low brick wall had groups of ivy growing down its side. They were very similar to the ruins on the small hill surrounded by tall grasses southeast of the village. However, the only standing structure immediately caught her attention.

"Oh my... This used to be..." She could hardly believe that she was staring at a stone archway. 'This was a portal!' However, the wolf quickly noticed something amiss. A section of stone at the top had been removed leaving a gap between part of the arch. Okhotna stepped forward and looked through the portal. Instead of seeing another world or region, she could see the nearest trees and grasses ahead.

"It doesn't work anymore." She walked through and found herself in the same place. 'I wonder where this arch used to go... and why it is broken.' The wolf stared up at the structure's missing section. It was a mystery she had no answer to. She raised a hand and traced over the work stonework and searched the rubble for clues. She stepped around the base of the structure, and noticed something in the grass. Nestled in a small pile of rubble and gravel was an odd object that didn't belong in the area. Okhotna tilted her head and crouched down with her blue eyes focused intently.

She picked up an arrowhead, and examined it. The item was very different from the ones she used. It was very thin and made entirely from metal. The edges were serrated with tiny backwards facing points. On its face was a faint marking. It had possibly been imbued with magic when it was first created. The little dragon's head craned out and smelled it only to exhale audibly.

"Looks like Elder Eriu was right about dragon hunters." She looked over the piece of the weapon in her hand a final time before burying it in the dirt. The cream furred wolf looked around the secretive ravine, wondering when someone could've entered despite having a broken portal.

The squealing and playful laughter of pups was never a new sound to any of the villagers' ears, whether an entire extended family lived within the village or across different regions. Eriu the elder white wolf was seated outside of her home, watching three of her grandchildren playing. Two young males were jumping around and wrestling while a younger female pup stood back shyly, staring at something in her hand. Okhotna stood back and watched for a moment. The youngest pup approached Eriu with something in her hand.

"Grandma, can you heal this flower for me?" She asked.

"Of course I can for you. Bring it here." She held out a black palmed hand. The little pup carefully set a little wilted wild flower in the elder's hand. Eriu grinned as the flower quickly rejuvenated itself in her palm, as if it had never been picked at all. The pup's eyes lit up brightly with fascination.

"There." She held the revived flower. "It's pretty, just like you." The white furred wolf smiled.

"Thank you!" The pup beamed a happy smile before running away with it.

'Aw. How cute.' The cream furred archer grinned. Gripping her bow in hand, Okhotna adjusted her quiver's strap before approaching Eriu.

"Hello." She waved and greeted the sitting elder.

"Hi Okhotna. Are you going hunting again?" The white wolf managed to ask despite the pups playing around their paws.

"Yes." She nodded. "I'm heading out soon."

"Okhotna, can you hunt a giant bird for me?" One of the male pups asked.

"A giant bird?" The archer grinned in amusement.

"Yeah! Can you catch one?"

"A giant bird sounds very elusive, but I can try." She held back a giggle at the request. The second male pup ran up to them.

"Let's pretend to be birds!" He jumped excitedly, nearly tackling the other. Both started making mock roars and waved their arms like wings. Eriu and Okhotna smiled all the same and watched them chase each other around the house.

"They're rambunctious." Okhotna grinned as she watched them play.

"They're a delightful handful." Elder Eriu agreed. "How is your sister and nephew?" She asked.

"They're doing well. I visited them this morning, but Tomas was fast asleep in my sister's arms, so I didn't stay long."

"Aww. He will be running around before you know it." She happily smiled. "They grow up so fast."

"I know." Okhotna beamed happily. "I'm enjoying him as much as I can without interrupting my sister every day."

"How is out little friend doing? I understand that you went by yourself recently." Eriu asked about the dragon.

"Yep. No one followed me that I know of, and he's doing well." She grinned at the fresh memories. "I had to lure him out of a hiding spot with some fruit, but he warmed up to me once he ate it."

"He has done that with me before." She chuckled. "He hasn't bitten you again, has he?"

"No, just a playful bite on my hand." Okhotna giggled. "He tried taking one of my arrows, and then chased me when I wouldn't give him one." Eriu laughed at the story.

"He's very cute when he wants something." The elder smiled.

"Little trickster..." Okhotna grinned.

"Did you try helping him fly?" She asked.

"Yeah, but it didn't work out very well." She rubbed her neck. "I think he's afraid of heights."

"You should expect it to take time." The white wolf nodded humbly. "It was only your first day with him. There's no need to rush anything." Okhotna nodded understandingly.

"I think it will take time as you said."

"Have you told anyone else about this?" She curiously looked at Okhotna.

"Only Laima because she is my best friend and I trust her." The wolf informed her.

"Ah, I see. That's fine then." She nodded.

"Before I went hunting, I wanted to ask you if there was anything else you could tell me about dragons. I don't know anything about them."

"I'm afraid my knowledge about dragons is lacking." The white wolfess admitted with a frown. "I know very little about them, the species, and their habits. What I told you in the ravine is everything that I know." She added quietly. "Dragons are mysterious creatures, and I haven't had time to find any information about them."

"And doing so carries its own risks." Okhotna acknowledged. If the wrong person heard about their situation then the baby dragon could be in danger.

"I am afraid that's right." The elder nodded. "But the town of Aramog might be worth visiting. There's a small library with plenty of books about various subjects there. My older brother Cortriu frequently visited it before he passed away. I'm sure you'll find something in there that can help." Elder Eriu advised.

"I see..." The archer nodded slowly. "Thank you for your help." Okhotna kindly grinned.

"No, thank you for all of the help you are providing me, and best of luck to your hunt." She waved.

"Thank you!" She smiled. "Take care!" The pups were too busy wrestling again to notice the cream furred wolf leaving. Okhotna left the village and crossed the creek with a sense of optimism in her strides.

'Aramog, huh?' The archer thought to herself. It was the closest town to the village, and would only require a day's worth of her time. She felt excited to walk to town one day, but also for her next hunt.

'I will head to the northern forests this time.' Okhotna crossed the shallow creek that snaked around the northern side of the village. She spotted Persephone carrying a basket along the base of the nearest hill.

"Hey Persephone!" She called out to her mountain lioness friend. The feline turned around.

"Oh, hey there Okhotna!" The feline returned a wave. "What are you up to?"

"I was thinking about going hunting for the afternoon."

"When are you not hunting?" She teased.

"When you're not in your vineyard." The wolf retorted with a grin.

"Ah, fair point." She conceded.

"Are you going to pick more tasty grapes?" She licked her lips.

"Yep. That's the plan." She held up her empty basket. "Wanna come with me before you go frolicking in the woods? My mom should already be there checking on a few blueberry and blackberry bushes."

"Haha. Sure." The wolf chuckled, and they ascended the hill together. "Hey. What did you have in your basket the other day?" Okhotna noticed that her friend's basket was empty now. "It looked like red berries, but I didn't get to ask."

"Yep. I picked them in the portal for Falara and Omic. They needed the berries to make red paint for the autumn equinox festival."

"Good timing too. Falara always paints me, and I told her I wanted red paint."

"You'll look great with red paint, or any color of paint really."

"Thanks."

"Did you enjoy your little hunt with Arias?" Persephone slyly grinned.

"Pff. I wouldn't call it that." The wolf rolled her eyes.

"Oh. Was he chasing after you then?" She looked somewhat surprised. "He's very nice, but I wouldn't expect him to make a move on you."

"Yeah he is nice, but he kept his distance and maintained a good pace with me. I didn't have any trouble with him."

"Hmm, well that's good. Has anyone else been chasing after you lately?"

"Thankfully, no." Okhotna's tail swished contently.

"I guess it's not natural for the hunter to become the hunted." The mountain lioness chuckled. Upon reaching the top of the hill, they descended down the other side. A path cut through the middle of a grassy section where two rows of matured vines grew. They bordered a small patch of woods at the bottom of a slope that led up to the northern forest.

Persephone's mother was not far off the path leading to the grapevines. She was seated on the ground, humming a pleasant tune as she sifting through a large basket of blackberries between her legs. Three empty baskets were beside her for picking more. She wore a matching pair of armbands, but nothing else. Her dark brown pelt had a grey tinge of color, but regular mountain lioness colorations and features. Her breasts sagged a little with age, but still retained some of their formerly youthful shape. Two wide areolae were the result of nursing three children on her own.

"Hey mom!" Persephone stopped with Okhotna to say hello.

"Hello there you two." She looked up and waved. "Are you two here to pick some fruit, or lay in the sun and have a snack." The feline grinned at her own joke.

"Okhotna here will make sure that not a single grape escapes." Persephone warmly patted her friend's back. "I'm picking some before she has to go on a hunt."

"Ah, I see, I see." She nodded. "If either of you want to pick and eat as many blackberries or blueberries as you want, then feel free." She said before popping a large dark berry into her mouth. "Mm! They're delicious."

"Thanks mom."

"Thanks." Okhotna waved. They walked over to the grapevines basking in the sunlight. Large green leaves grew along characteristic woody vines that seemed to reach in every direction. The gentlest of breezes made them bob in a delicate dance.

"The leaves are huge." Okhotna touched one that was larger than her hand.

"My parents and I put a lot of hard work and care into each vine." Persephone smiled proudly at the rows of plants on either side of them. She gently touched a hanging bunch of deep purple colored grapes dangling before her eyes. Glancing around, Okhotna could see there was plenty of fruit to pick. Large bunches of deep purple or deep blue grapes were neatly tucked along sturdy vines or hanging below in the open.

"It's time to pick all of these grapes." She smiled happily at the bounty in her hands. An entire growing season's hard work had come to fruition. Persephone plucked two juicy little fruits and tossed one to Okhotna.

"Mm. It smells sweet." She savored the aroma before popping it into her mouth. "But it tastes even better!"

"Mmhm!" The feline agreed. "I have a lot so I might take some to town so a vintager can make it into wine."

"That's a good idea." Okhotna liked it.

"The problem is that it can take a long time to make good wine."

"How long?"

"Months or even a year or two."

"That's a long time." Okhotna was surprised.

"Yeah, that's why I haven't made a decision yet." Persephone hummed indecisively. "Whenever I drink wine it always tastes a little different each time, but I really want to know how mine would taste."

"I had wine once before when someone brought it to me as a gift."

"One of your suitors?" The feline presumed.

"Yep." The wolf nodded. "This one was a human hailing from Ip-shah, and it came in a nice jug with a rope attached to the handle. I drank it all."

"Oh, I remember that." Persephone remembered. "You're never supposed to drink all of it at once."

"Yeah, I felt so stupid and couldn't stand straight." The wolf's ears folded back in embarrassment. "I sang loudly and laughed, but don't remember much after that."

"You acted crazy." Persephone held back a silly smile. "I have never seen you dance, sing, and stumble around before."

"I had a terrible headache the next day and felt sick." She rubbed her head.

"That was awful... But you're not going through that again by eating my grapes." Persephone happily smiled. "Pull any bunches that are nice and ripe like the one you ate." She instructed. "You might have to use your claws if they're a little stubborn and hang onto the vine." The wolf happily crouched down to help, and found a few bunches hanging within reach. With a few quick pinches, they were added to the basket. Continuing along the vine, something odd caught her eye.

"What are these?" Okhotna touched a hand sized piece of paper hanging from one of the vines. The strange red painted symbols appeared alien to her.

"They're sealing tags. I have these to help repel any hungry wild animals thanks to elder Eriu." The feline held up one of the special decorative tags with a string attached. They were supposedly imbued with a magical preventative that repelled specific beings. Traditionally, that meant ghosts or spirits, but Okhotna wasn't a strong believer in either. However, she respected the magic that elder Eriu could conjure like everyone else in the village, especially after seeing the baby dragon.

"Do those seal tags work?" The wolf stood up and skeptically looked over the one in her hand.

"Yep. I haven't lost as much as I have in past years. Maybe I should put a few on you." She teased and dangled one in the air.

"Then I'd never catch anything." The wolf stuck her tongue out and giggled.

"What if they kept annoying people away from you?"

"Oh? How many can I use?" Okhotna joked before both of them laughed. After a few more minutes of picking, they yielded plenty of grapes.

"My basket is already full." Persephone picked it up. "And heavy." She added with a grunt, but held it without trouble.

"Did you need another basket?"

"I can get another basket from my mom."

"It's no problem..."

"You can go ahead and hunt." She insisted. "I've used up enough of your time."

"Oh, it's fine." Okhotna smiled all the same. "Alright. I'm going up to the northern forest." She picked up her bow. "If I don't catch anything, I can come back and help pick more for you or your mom."

"I appreciate it, but let's hope you catch a giant deer." She winked. Okhotna grinned as she ascended the hillside and disappeared into the trees. Stepping over a rotten log, the wolf thought about the town of Aramog.

"I don't think I should ask Persephone to go with me to Aramog." The archer quietly thought aloud to herself. "She is busy with her vineyard right now, and I can't truthfully tell her why I want to go... Maybe Laima can go with me." She hoped the border collie would have the time. "She won't have to make up an excuse for her husband, because I will be with her." The archer liked her own reasoning as she ascended higher into the forest.

Eventually the terrain leveled out as she reached a higher plateau of the north. The patches of dappled sunlight grew fainter in the denser growth, and moss became more prevalent. Saplings were rare as only ancient or adult trees towered high above. The northern forest was unlike the forests of the southern mountains, the rugged west, or the patches of woods in the eastern fields leading to the Dragon Ravine. The reason had nothing to do with the land per se but entirely due to its rare foliage. The plateau's ancient forest was home to the oldest trees of the region, and they were magnificently large. Simply known as ancient or giant trees, their dense upper canopies and treetops blocked the sun from reaching the forest floor, creating a darker environment from the limited sunlight.

Okhotna placed a hand on the trunk of a modest oak tree. The rough bark under her palm almost felt cool from the prolonged shady environment. A small insect whizzed by and landed on the bark just above her hand.

'No lightning bugs are out.' She observed and followed a faint trail through the glimmering rays of light from above. The wolf blinked her eyes and waved away a few gnats trying to follow after her. But she stopped in her tracks after passing two flowery bushes basking in patches of sunlight. The forest floor opened up a little, and the first giant ancient tree loomed before her like a mountain casting its own shadows. Faint rays of golden sunlight resembled arrows as they reached the ground and trunk at perfect angles. A chattering colony of birds from high up in its canopies resembled an avian angelic chorus, unseen from those on the earth.

At first, the base of the ancient pale grayish brown trunk resembled a wall due to its size. Although, it would not be incorrect to see it as a monument of nature. The gigantic ancient tree towered impossibly high above Okhotna and every other other tree within the vicinity like a mountain. Its branches extended out in all directions like pathways of the sky. As a pup it was easy to believe that the largest trees in the forest held the entire sky up. As an adult, maybe there was a hint of truth in the impossible tale.

The patchy moss underneath her paws was a rich green and lusciously soft as she approached the base of the ancient tree. The ground became uneven as she walked over large roots buried beneath the ground. Reaching out, Okhotna placed a palm on the tree and stared up into the endless branches and leaves above. An unreal sensation tingled through her skin. Barely a third of a mile over her shoulder was the bright sunny hillsides leading back to the village and Persephone's grapevines.

'Alright... Time to hunt.' She stepped away and walked around the giant roots. The wolf searched for fresh signs of forest deer or any other prey. She lifted her snout, but an odor caught her attention. Her nose flared at the foul scent as a concerned look furrowed onto her brow.

'A boar is nearby.' She recognized it immediately. The large bulky animals were territorial, and fully grown adults were difficult to hunt even in groups. Okhotna had heard plenty of stories from Powena and Suwen about injuries resulting from being gored. The golden archer ran over, carried her bow in her jaws, and quickly climbed the nearest tree with low branches.

'If the trace scent fades away then I can use this tree to spot deer from.' She found herself in a good position, and settled down. Moments passed before the closest rustling made her ears perk up. Blue eyes searched the closest underbrush through the leaves as the rustling persisted. A small inaudible grunt made her brow furrow. Her face soured as a large boar emerged into view. A dark shaggy coat of hair and large worn tusks covered the large beast that easily weighed more than Okhotna.

'Guess I will have to wait.' She decided. However, the archer's left ear flickered, detecting something else approaching. Okhotna turned her head, and her eyes widened in shock as an upright canine figure walked up from the trail towards the ancient tree.

'Arias?!' She couldn't believe he had followed her all this way. Her heart pounded at the unfolding situation. Arias meandered closer and closer unwittingly towards the foraging boar. In a split second she had to make a decision. She could yell and alert Arias to the danger, but that might alert the boar to his presence. Would Arias escape in time, or be frozen in fear? However, if she could shoot the boar, then it might panic and run away.

In a swift motion the archer reached back and pulled an arrow from her quiver. Okhotna felt her heart quicken as she silently notched the arrow to her bowstring. Hearing an audible grunt made her quickly draw her bow, and take aim. One worry lingered in the back of her mind. If she couldn't hit the boar, then her last weapon was her knife stored in her quiver. All of her muscles tensed as she clenched her teeth. She breathlessly released the bowstring, sending the arrow through the air with a muffled thwack.

The point sailed true and struck the beast's neck. An ear piercing squeal echoed throughout the area. The boar bucked ferociously and searched for its assailant before suddenly turning around and dashing deeper into the forest. It's squeals grew quiet, but didn't fade away entirely. Arias was standing several meters away completely stunned and frozen in place.

"Run, Arias!" Okhotna shouted. The wolf nearly fell over himself and dove for the closest shelter to hide. The cream furred archer dropped down from the tree and ran over to the flower bushes where Arias dove behind. There was a fresh trail of blood leading away where the boar had retreated. The beast was injured, but it was still very much alive, wherever it went.

"Get up!" She yelled. Arias's head popped up as he hastily rose to his paws. "Run!" She grabbed him by the arm without pausing, and ran back south down the faint forest trail. They ran through the dappled light without looking over their shoulders. The fear of a charging boar only compelled them to keep running.

Okhotna only stopped as soon when they emerged at the top of the sunny sloping hillsides. She panted heavily to catch her breath. Arias was a mess of unkempt fur with bits of leaves stuck on him. His legs were still visibly trembling from the adrenaline coursing through his body.

"What were you doing following me like that?! You could've been killed by that boar!" Okhotna barked angrily and glared at him.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to..." His voice trailed off quietly as his ears folded back guiltily. "I just..." His eyes darted around searching for a good answer.

"Why didn't you say something about following me?! You know a lot of guys have chased after me before, and they-!"

"Yes, I know that!" He yelled back. "I wasn't going to hound you like everyone else. I just... I didn't want to bother you, but I still wanted to be with you. That's all." His explanation had the female baffled.

"If that boar had attacked you, then I wouldn't have been able to save you. Both of us could've been killed." She frowned and pointed back to the woods. The pained look of guilt only deepened on his face as he failed to explain himself.

"I... I'm sorry, Okhotna!" He pleaded before turning and running downhill in shame. Her jaw dropped in shock as he ran away, quickly disappearing from sight. Several hunts had been ruined over the past years due to persistent suitors chasing after her, but no one had been put in serious danger before.

"You idiot!!" The wolf yelled back at him. Okhotna gripped her bow tightly as her blood boiled in frustration, but ultimately dropped it in the grass. The archer plopped onto the hillside with a prolonged sigh, covered her eyes, and tried thinking of something else.

"Be thankful that you are alive and no one was hurt..." She mumbled to herself and quelled her anger. After several moments she opened her eyes and looked out at the beautiful landscape before her, stretching towards the village and beyond. A gentle breeze stirred around her, barely rustling her long hair or parting her cream fur. A falling leaf twirling through the air gently rested on her shoulder before slipping down to the grass beside her. Blue eyes glanced at the yellow leaf thoughtlessly, a sure sign of autumn merely days away.