Turtleback Lake it's either education or elimination

Kjors reached out to nibble at her face affectionately, and the familiar caress was as reassuring as his words. Karina was relieved that Kjo had transformed from aggressor back into loving caretaker, a role with which she was far more comfortable. Karina’s demure little smile accompanied a few thumps of her tail against the ground; as often as he lavished it upon her, receiving praise from Kjors always had a way of making her feel exceptional.  He offered to continue their lesson later, and the child cocked her head to the side wondering if she had heard correctly. Had she really performed well enough for Kjo to continue to want to teach her?  That was certainly different. Typically after a rumble, the despairing child would receive consolation that was dismissive and along the lines of, “Don’t worry, the pack has strong guardians that will keep you safe.”  Never before had she experienced a lesson  that didn’t make her feel like a lost cause.

 

Feeling inspired, the girl was able to summon enough energy to rise and trot after her teacher. She was so exhausted that she didn’t even notice that they were walking an unfamiliar path—certainly not the one that led to the densite she knew. The child let her mind wander, and for once she was too tired to stray from the path and gather the various herbs and useful plants they were passing by. For once, she didn’t even notice the flora, too lost in thought to pay attention. She found that it was easier to recall her lesson when she wasn’t actively trying to remember... If she emptied her mind, the memories returned to her in chunks for her to muse over and piece together as she walked. It was similar to the way she would suddenly remember a dream when going about everyday life, the familiar images springing to mind unexpectedly. Thinking of the strange ordeal as dreamlike was somehow less terrifying for Karina, and gradually she was able to recognize that the experience as something very unique, intriguing… and possibly even desirable.