It was time for the Woodland queen to head home. She knew she couldn’t stay away forever, and even if she was still conflicted, she missed them all terribly, her pack, her children, even Miccah. Love was a strange thing, not easily shattered. Her heart ached after what he’d done to her, but she still loved him; Which is half of the issue..! However she’d realized that she couldn’t solve it out here alone, most of the explosive anger had burned off, and she knew the only solution would be talking. She really was too old to run away from her problems.

But she’d decided to giver herself just a few more days, since she was out here already, and who knew when she would get the chance again. These woods echoed with memories of her first days in Relic Lore, times so long past, yet now they were all coming back. So she set out to visit old haunts, starting with the Bramble Falls, where she’d first met Ashanti. The flowers her old friend had come searching for back then, were not yet in bloom, but the water flowed as strong as if it was spring, roaring as it fell from the mountain side onto the rocks below. A melancholic smile curved the shewolf’s lips as she watched the scene, tail swishing slightly. So much had happened since then, she’d been such a different wolf, young and inexperienced. But Ashanti had shown her a way to help others beyond her wildest imaginations, and told her of a place where she could learn more; I miss you..! If it hadn’t been for her, Aideen would not have become a healer, or even joined Secret Woodlands and met Nina. It was a strange thing to imagine, how much one meeting could change your life.

Word Count: 303

Aideen was lost in her own thoughts, and despite the newcomer’s good effort, she jumped a little at the sudden voice. Copper eyes swept the banks of the lake, spotting the two figure emerging from the woods beyond it. Their image was as surprising as their presence, the adult so small that her pup wasn’t far from reaching her height; Even smaller than me..! That was something the vixen shewolf had only experienced a few times in life, and it made her smile to herself as she looked at the two, slowly coming closer. Not bothering to wait for her reply, the pup barked an introduction, confirming what Aideen had already guessed, that her dark companion was her mother. She was a brazen little thing, smiling and wagging her tail, and the Woodlander’s smile grew wider, even as she felt a small pang in her chest, reminded of her own sons back at home.

“Of course not,” she answered the other woman’s question with a light chuckle, pushing aside the thoughts of home; “There’s plenty of water for all of us.” Then, turning her attention to the girl, she smiled warmly and said: “It’s very nice to meet you Hawthorne, I’m Aideen.” She glanced back over at the mother, nodding in greeting, before she returned her gaze to Hawthorne. Tail continuing to wag, she tilted her head slightly, studying the child with gentle curiosity. She didn’t look an awful lot like her dam, already sporting clear signs that she would grow both taller and heftier, and with a much lighter coat. Aideen blinked down into the bright orange gaze, voice soft as she asked: “And what brings the two of you out here?” It was a question directed as much at the parent as her daughter, though Aideen’s eyes stayed on the girl, nostrils flaring gently as she waited for the answer.

Their scent carried slowly do to the lack of wind, but when she did catch it, her brows lifted in surprise. She recognized the clear markers of White Fir Notch, though they were slightly different now that Gent and Reala were no longer in charge. But she knew enough about the new leaders to be certain that this wasn’t one of them; Which means..! A chill of apprehension ran down the russet woman’s spine. SHe stayed quiet though, waiting for the duo’s answer first, silently hoping that they would disprove her presumption; But not truly believing they could.

Word Count: 410