Word Count: 461
Yumiko's explorations had carried her far further than she intended to wander. The frigid air licked at her eyes and nose, annoying the heat-loving creature to no end. She licked her nose for the thousandth time, only for it to dry up and freeze instantly yet again. Annoyed, she gave up on personal comfort and continued on her way. The forest was quiet; something she had been doing her best to avoid since becoming a member of AniWaya, for it allowed her to dwell on her violent past. She hummed quietly to herself in desperate attempts to keep the thoughts at bay, but knew that without stimulation she would soon succumb to the horrific memories of her family's violent deaths.
She heard the faint gurgling of a stream to her left. As one who grew up next to the ocean, and as one in desperate need of distraction, she couldn't pass up the chance to explore this new find. Yumiko trotted off towards the sound, leaping a fallen log or two, until the river came into sight. The sight took her breath away; it had been so long since she'd seen such a beautiful expanse of water. The gentle lapping at the shores as the swift current passed her by lulled her into an almost stupor. She needed this, needed to not think about anything. She had found a home, after her weeks of wandering, and now she had found her thinking place. A place with no distractions, a place that no one would ever distur.... Who's that? She thought warily, as she noticed a slender she-wolf further down the riverbank. How could she have been that careless? She was no longer in packlands, and there was apparently a war going on in the North. Who knows what this wolf wants.
Turning to face the wolf, who was larger than her (like most wolves), Yumiko took a defensive stance. It wasn't in her to be aggressive, and she didn't want to insult what may be her first friend in these strange lands. "Who goes there?" She called out tentatively, straining to keep her voice in control. Ever since that night, when strangers had murdered her family, she no longer could trust. It took her a long time to believe anything coming from another's maw these days.
"I mean you no harm... I was just exploring." She added, as way of explanation. She took a step towards the she-wolf, more bold than usual, until she was only 6 feet away. Even sitting down the other wolf was easily 5 inches taller than her miniscule 24 inches. She tensed her muscles, ready to run if she had to. She was incredibly swift; she could outrun this stranger if they attacked. She was prepared.