"Are you sure coming here was a good idea, Rin? I mean, following a rumor, that might be just that, into a dangerous blizzard?" The voice in the storm came from a large wolf. Well, it wasn't a voice exactly. His words echoed directly into her mind. A message only for her to hear.
"It's the only lead we've got, Timber. Silver Wolf. It's our chance to finally belong somewhere." The girl responded out loud. She looked down at the wolf beside her. "Don't you want that for us? For me?"
"Well, yes. But..."
Suddenly the blizzard picked up speed. The intensity of the wind caused Timber's bluish-black and white fur to blow wildly. His eyes squinted, ears flat against his skull as he pushed against the storm. His companion, Rinni Faithe, pushed onward a few steps behind him. The wind blew her hood off her head unveiling her true appearance.
With her right hand, she pulled her cloak tightly around her form. Her left arm was held upward to shield her face from the cold air and snow. Her face had a small canine-like muzzle with a cute black nose. Her long black hair blew wildly behind her like a cape. Atop her head, black wolf ears with pale insides lay flat almost invisible in her hair. A black wolf tail trailed behind her blinking in and out of visibility as the wind covered and uncovered it again, her cloak blowing wildly.
"This is bad, Timber!" Rinni shouted over the wind. "I can't see anything! Wait... what's that!?"
Just ahead of them, glowing translucent wolves stood clear as day within the blizzard. Rinni remembered hearing something about wolves, spirits or something like that. They supposedly tested and guided friendly people to the guild. Rinni and Timber stopped and stood in stunned awe as the spirit studied them at a distance. Finally, the wolf-spirits howled and headed up the mountain range.
"Should we follow?"
"I... I think so."
Wolf and girl followed the spirits as they guided them toward a building surrounded yet untouched by the blizzard. That had to be it. Silver Wolf. They made it. Rinni drew her hood up over her head to hide her ears and face as she ran toward the building. Once outside the door, she swallowed and took a deep breath before entering the building.
The interior was breathtakingly beautiful. And it was surprisingly warm inside. All around were members talking or checking out the mission board. Now that she was here, she was terrified. What if they turn her away? What if they... see her? What if she makes a fool of herself?
Timber entered behind her and shook the snow out of his fur. Sensing her unease, the wolf nudged the palm of her hand with his nose. She looked down at him and stroked the wolf between his ears with a soft smile. Beneath her hood, only her lips were exposed. She kept her tail hidden under the cloak, her ears and muzzle concealed by the hoody. Most people saw her appearance as creepy. Others saw her as mysterious. Only time would tell what the members of Silver Wolf would think of her.
"H-hello? I... I heard I could join the Silver Wolf Guild here. I... I came a very long way... so I hope..." Her voice trailed off uncomfortably. She was trembling. She held her hands in front of her, visibly shaken. Timber calmly sat on his haunches by her side, watching any who pass or approach warily.