New Beginnings (Olkhon Island | Baikal Lake, Siberia)

[Tenzin]

Tenzin was content in the bubble of chores, listening to the silence and the breathing of the others. She investigated every inch of the cabin, and spent some time staring at the strange drawings scrawled in biro on the bathroom walls, trying to fathom what on earth they were. Perhaps these were the drawings Sierra thought the other girl would come back for. Little of it made sense, and she was curious by now, but did not go through the bags of belongings. Though someone’s wallet beeped several times while she was preparing the food.

She joined Sierra on the floor to share the meal. Though Tenzin was long used to the company of the wolves, she’d never met another of the kin, not even back home. It was the first time since Leh she’d not had to keep her eyes concealed, or her secret close. Guilt over Jacinda played in the back of her mind as she contemplated whether it felt like a betrayal, though it wasn’t like she had revealed anything Sierra could not discern with her own senses. And it felt nice to be herself with no guard.

She’d removed some of her layers in the cabin’s merry heat, and the tattoos from shoulder to wrist were clearly visible. A few braided bracelets circled her wrists, but otherwise she was dressed entirely practically. She did not know if Never would already understand what she was, for it was part of the name the wolves back home had given her, and therefore part of their understanding. The dance they described amidst the stars was one of fierce guardianship and protection against enemies that would threaten pack. But the wolves back home had hunted with her, and Never had all the ranginess of a half grown pup. He was excited for the new company and might not discern the nuances.

If Sierra had ever been hunted and knew it, she might check for the snake tattoo nestled amongst the plethora of others. Or she might not. Either way, Tenzin planned no deception. Not with one of the kin.

“Just from village,” she answered the question with a small laugh. “Local dish.”  The pelmeni had been bargained amongst all her other business, not made from scratch, though Tenzin did consider herself a decent cook. It helped keep the mind human when untempered instincts craved the blood of the hunt. “But not hard. When I small, everyone cook. Sharing all the chores. Mostly live from land. But cooking good, helps the mind – remembering not actually wolf.”  She raised her brows with a grin, and wagged a finger in the motion of one of her old tutors. Clearly a fond memory for all rākṣasa hatyārā lessons could be harsh. “Cook well or eat poor.”

Afterwards she gestured to the beeping bag, though it was presently quiet. Unlikely to be Wildfyre, of course, not to mention that the wolves would have alerted them already had anything changed. “Bag making noises while all sleeping,”  she said. Curiosity laced the tone and her golden gaze both. Sierra’s scent was calmer, but the worry had not diminished. Tenzin’s inquisitiveness was youthful, but she’d let the other woman set the pace.