◊ let it water a parched throat with warm summer rain ◊
It had been so focused on gathering the correct branches that it had completely missed another wolf's approach. An unexpected sound brought Snapdragon's head up, a fallen branch still clutched in its teeth. Its ears perked; its tail wagged. Could it be? It dropped the branch and looked to the source of the noise.
"Larkspur!" it said, surprised and delighted. Unlike itself, Larkspur had not been transmuted into their younger body, and there was no mistaking that almost wooden coat pattern, or those feathered wings. Although, the snake was new...
Whitewater was to the north, and Cloud Bend to the northeast. Snapdragon had wandered to the edge of Verdantis territory. It could be argued that Larkspur was still outside the pack's border; perhaps it should stay that way. Quinnat had been well-established in Verdantis, able to invite a stranger like Snapdragon without issue. Snapdragon did not have such sway, and while Verdantis almost certainly wouldn't attack Snapdragon's littermate... well, better safe than sorry was the motto Snapdragon lived by.
So Snapdragon buzzed its wings and made a beeline across the muddy river, to get to Larkspur on the other side. The air was cold enough to sting, but the water was definitely colder. "This may be the longest we've ever gone without seeing each other," it observed. "But I see you are healthy, and more complete than myself." It descended gradually and landed on a dry patch. It looked up at its taller littermate— even taller than usual, given Snapdragon's current apparent age.
"Larkspur!" it said, surprised and delighted. Unlike itself, Larkspur had not been transmuted into their younger body, and there was no mistaking that almost wooden coat pattern, or those feathered wings. Although, the snake was new...
Whitewater was to the north, and Cloud Bend to the northeast. Snapdragon had wandered to the edge of Verdantis territory. It could be argued that Larkspur was still outside the pack's border; perhaps it should stay that way. Quinnat had been well-established in Verdantis, able to invite a stranger like Snapdragon without issue. Snapdragon did not have such sway, and while Verdantis almost certainly wouldn't attack Snapdragon's littermate... well, better safe than sorry was the motto Snapdragon lived by.
So Snapdragon buzzed its wings and made a beeline across the muddy river, to get to Larkspur on the other side. The air was cold enough to sting, but the water was definitely colder. "This may be the longest we've ever gone without seeing each other," it observed. "But I see you are healthy, and more complete than myself." It descended gradually and landed on a dry patch. It looked up at its taller littermate— even taller than usual, given Snapdragon's current apparent age.