“Ariel?” The woman's voice was muffled and distant, as if it were being filtered through a thick layer of water. “Ariel, what happened?” The voice grew slightly louder, but it still sounded like it was coming from beneath the surface of a stagnant pool.

The voice dripped of concern, of a love that she had always yearned for, and more tears dropped from her eyes.

“What is wrong? Did you see your wolf?” The woman held her hands, squeezing them occasionally, but Ariel shook her head. The words were stuck in her throat like a morsel of food that refused to come down.

“Excuse me?” She croaked out a sob,...