Ember breathed deeply as she stood upon the heights, golden eyes closed and a blissful smile lining her open lips. She missed the thin, crisp air of the mountain so dearly. The sun blazed hardily against the deep blue sky, as though it could thaw the ridge itself. It was the perfect day to return home.
A part of her had been worried, which was concerning in itself as that wasteful emotion was supposed to have been trained clean out of her. But when she drew closer, and both Kyna and Greer's scents stood out strong within the air, and they were far from alone. The pack had not crumbled in her absence, as the Pines had. It was an incredible relief, and all the more bolstered her faith in her strawberry blonde friend.
When the butterflies of familiarity at last subsided, she exposed her throat to send up a melodic call, asking for an audience. She was here to join, for the second but final time.