Violet orbs glared through the air as their owner dragged herself onto the shore, in step with another wolf. The Aquatis ahead of them was transforming back to full wolf form. Asterin, daughter of Gunhild the Bastard Princess, shook out her gorgeous pelt and curled mist around herself. It was a show of competence for the two wolves she saw on the beach.
Asterin heard her aunt gasp. Boremund, beside her, frowned as he observed, as did she, the orca Aquatis rushing up the beach.
Asterin followed her, catching the breathless words spoken to the two. “You’re his, aren’t you?” she gasped, and both Boremund and Asterin knew whom she was speaking of. “My name is Zenith. I am the sister of Gunhild and Aegir, Gunhild being the mother of my two companions, my niece Asterin and my nephew Boremund; I’m looking for him. For Aegir, I mean.” Zenith’s breathless words paused as she drank in the sight of the two. “You look like him,” she said to the female. Asterin stood right beside her aunt, dipping her head in a greeting. “You look like Aegir, you really do.”

“The devil’s after both of us!”