"Gray? Snow?" Lara dropped into a crouch, her lips curving into a rare smile as the two wolves pressed against her, tails flicking. She stroked their fur, comforted by their presence. "Where have you been hiding since yesterday?"
They whimpered softly, as though scolding her for doubting them. Gray nudged Snow, and the she-wolf lifted her proud head. Around her neck, camouflaged and nearly lost in her white fur, was tied a roll of parchment.
Lara's eyes widened. "A message? So that's why the two of you vanished. You made me worry." She untied the scroll swiftly, her heart already tightening in anticipation. "Who could have sent this…?"
Unrolling the parchment, she read the short, urgent warning:
Three days from now, the Zuran Fleet will arrive. Be careful. —Jethru
Lara's breath caught. Folding the message quickly, she brushed her hand over the wolves' heads. "You've done well. This is no ordinary letter—it may change everything."
