Her small voice carried like a fairy's breath through the still air between them, tickling his ears in a whisper. Nen'tah listened reverently, eyes growing wide as she explained to him what the mysterious wold entailed. He looked around; they were in a forest! Who knew how old it was, but to him, it was surely enormous - which took time to grow. It could be ancient, too!

What did lie beyond the forest?

For a moment Nen'tah felt the call of the explorer within him, urging the boy to see what mysteries awaited at the edge of the woods, outside the safety of the Saatsine -

He looked down at his unwieldy paws attached to legs as yet far too short.

Maybe not now.

She called him butterfly and he perked up immediately. Was she saying he could fly, too? Nen'tah scrunched his eyes closed and tried to manifest the thought of wings, but when he opened them and looked toward his shoulders, only the dark scruff of his fur could be seen.

He sighed.

Don't think wolves fly, the boy said. It had been worth the attempt.