“Noah can fly,” she pointed out. “So can my mother and sister, plus they are some of the largest birds in the sky. If anything happens they can fly away or face anything that may come their way. For example, the first winter Noah was in Syliras, he wrote to us and told us he had fought off  a dire lynx. That’s an amazing feat for him. I couldn’t do that at all. I don’t know if I could even outrun a lynx, let alone a dire lynx.

“My brothers and father are very capable animals as well, very strong, intimidating, capable. It’s unlikely anything will mess with them, especially my father. I don’t have the luxury, so I have to use everything I can to my advantage. I’ve learned from my family in order to survive when I’m not with them. That’s what it’s about in the end: surviving regardless of what happens, using whatever you can to do so.”

Aimee smiled at the Benshira pressuring her to cook again. “You’re persistent,” she said joyfully. “I’ll cook your second meal in Zeltiva, how’s that? No doubt my mother will be taking care of most things when we get there, including sleeping arrangements, unless you and Noah were thinking about checking into an room? There’s enough space in the house for you. If not, we’ll kick Ryon out. He can go to one of his friends’ house.”

Elann informed Aimee on what they were thinking pertaining to living once they began to settle into the city. The wolf nodded at her words, her worry slightly dashed but not completely erased. “Perhaps it’s selfish, but I would like you guys to be close, that’s all,” she said.

“Noah told me that you had a dream about an abandoned cottage?” she said, seeking confirmation. “He said he remembered seeing something like it. Do you think you’ll find it when you get to Zeltiva?”