Frozen sat the tawny woman's haunches as she rested upon the crest of the Lookout, her mismatched gaze unwavering across the Lowlands. It was as she was staring right at them as they retreated away from the rye fields. They were long out of sight, she hadn't even watched them leave in the first place anyway. Just heard about it. The beta had been out in the lowlands tracking the elk herds for the day yesterday until this morning when she returned from her short trip. Something was off, she could feel it in the air like a thick cloud of fog sticking to her skin. Ade sought Jessie out to see how she was or if something had happened when she was out. The alpha solemnly told her the news. They were gone. He was gone. 

Just like that, her partner took his leave from the rye with his mate at his side. His reasoning was clear, which Jessie had told her he was tired of everyone disappearing and he was tired of being taken advantage of by others. The sunflower couldn't help the anger that bubbled with her chest, but the shock of it numbed everything. So she sat angry, conflicted and hurt. She didn't even get a goodbye. 

Did she mean anything to the brute? I must of been foolish to think so, she thought angrily as her claws kneaded into the dirt under her paws. There was no goodbye from him personally to her. Sure, he didn't just vanish like the others, but was he trying to prove that no matter how much you think you know someone or care about them, they will just leave you anyway? He was her partner, the one she could always trust to have her back no matter how much they bickered and fought. He was their backbone, their protector from all enemies foreign and domestic. She would do anything for him. But she didn't deserve a proper goodbye from him. Adelayde wasn't worthy enough. 

With Askan gone, what was she now? The only member aside from Drestig and Jessie to actually never leave or a fool for staying here for so long. Askan had been the one a year ago to bring her to the Rye and become her first real family member in the Lore. He was the one, despite how much of a crude brute he was, to convince her to swear an oath to the Rye fields, to Drestig and Jessie. She needed somewhere to belong then and she found that. Adelayde belonged in the Rye, but did she still belong here? 

Adelayde couldn't wrap her head around leaving the pack when three young cubs needed all the protection they could get. Percy had gone missing at a young age as well, but the beta was determined not to let it happen to this litter. Did Askan not care about that? Was he that selfish? What was she going to do now with two new members she barely knew? Perhaps they were going to leave too.

Why doesn't just everyone leave now and save her the heartache? Growling to herself as a frustrated tear ran down her face as she fought to keep herself from breaking down. Though, she was a nudge away from doing so anyway. So she began to pace. Then her pacing led to full out running. What felt like minutes were actually hours as she galloped the Rye borders, the rhythm of her footfalls soothing the storm crowding her mind. Until she had to finally stop and catch her breath before she collapsed in exhaustion. Tawny legs spread far apart as her head hung defeated as she panted frantically. Her mind was empty now as she focused.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.