Table for Three

Ashe remember why you started.    Ashe lifted her head slightly as he elaborated on his thoughts on the self-proclaimed queens. Zariah in particular. Her ear flicked, and there was a thrum of grim appreciation at his defiance that would ripple down their attuned link. There was no mandatory enlistment now, but the thought of it had her blood boiling. I know the Launcelyns. I know Zariah, she all but spat. The Hawthorne's most loyal hounds. The sooner they're ousted, the better. She rose to all fours, her tongue drawing over the blood still on her maw, her eyes glinting with warning. She would recreate Northwind here, Jigano. And Northwind was country that festered with corruption, cruelty, and war.    Her tail traitorously swished behind her at his acceptance, and she glanced out to the trees, ears burning. She had meant it, she had never before extended such an offer without meaning it. Once, she had been accused of stretching herself too thin, and helping the wrong people had hurt her before. Could she trust her instincts better now that her Master was dead, now that no one hunted her?    Maybe. Maybe not. Her instincts told her that Jigano was a man that had no interest in manipulating her, but there would always be the hissing curl in the back of her mind. Idiot girl, it told her. Anyone can betray you.    I should get back to the Guildhall, she said looking back at him, subtly letting him know where to find her should he need to. Don't want Remi or Ronin thinking I've vanished again. Feel free to carve up the rest of the deer, if you'd like. I'll hunt another. She gave a dip of her head to the loreseeker before turning toward the trees. There was.. a lot to think about. Still, her pawsteps slowed by the treeline, and she looked back toward Jigano. Thank you.    For what, she wasn't entirely certain. She watched him and his griffin a moment longer, and then she turned away, the jet black wolf swallowed by the dappled shadows of the trees. {end}