She murmured her thanks. “Do you know why I was let free?”
The Elf shrugged his muscular shoulders. “Couldn’t tell you. I just work here.” He laughed. She smiled at him, determined to stay on the good side of as many Thaenites, Elf or wolf, as she could, put on her pack, and left the fortress.
Outside, the Steelmint wolves waited. Laeanai was bouncing to and fro nervously. When he noticed her presence, he bounded up to her joyously and jumped up, licking her face.
She hugged him back and gave him some human-style kisses, before letting him drop to the ground again. The rest of her pack came to surround her, kissing her hands and wagging their tails until she feared they might fall off.
She crouched down to her knees so her face was closer, and got a bundle more wolf kisses on her cheek
