The wolf spoke, and the corner of its lip twitched upward in a thin smile that did not reach its eyes. Yes, it supposed it could see how that would be frustrating. Not that it could much relate.

A tiger, it clarified, perking up almost imperceptibly at the prospect of a teaching moment. It was clear from the way she looked at it, if not the hesitance in her tone, that she had likely never seen one. A big cat native to a number of diverse habitats, though their historic range and wild population is but a fraction of what it once was. It flicked its tail. They are not usually this color.

As for the water, it seems there is a plague on this land. I have found but one other affliction, in the mountains south of here, and there may very well be more. Its gaze began to sparkle with interest — with desire — as it leaned forward and bent its head until its nose hovered just above the surface of the water. The smell alone burned its lungs and stung its eyes, and it took every ounce of its willpower not to take a sip. It's quite fascinating, is it not?