She was startled at the sight of a blood-red lady coming to rest on the ground. “I am Princess Skade, daughter of Queen Lucaya and King Nibris, beta of Hawthorne. What is your name and what do you seek, girl?” Gaëlle swallowed.
“I-I’m Gaëlle, and I’m looking f-for a home in a pack. I-I have chosen Hawthorne, if you would a-accept me.” She shifted on her feet as she glanced at Princess Skade, whom she immediately nicknamed the Princess of Blood. She just looked so bloody, as if she’d been marinating in blood. It was too intimidating. Gaëlle blinked away tears of intimidation that were forming. The teen’s confidence and socialization were not up to par, and so, she was rather used to feeling this way. She didn’t like it; she was so easily taken advantage of. Threatened. Mocked. It was tiring. She didn’t know if she could maintain her composure in front of Skade.

“For you I’d bleed myself dry.”