A rare occurrence was transpiring within the safety of the Backwater. The young girl, without an adult to guide her paw steps, was slipping out of the den. The cold winter air greeted her as she embarked on an unusual journey. She cast her typical wary glances before fully emerging. Sonnet slowly walked through the familiar trees and down the well-beaten paths. A soft sound arose from her vocal cords, gradually lifting higher in volume till it exceeded that of a hum. The melody carried a wordless tune and filled the air with its gentle chorus.

Caught up with her singing, the child found herself on the edge of the territory before she knew it. Her movements halted. Her mind quickly became full of varying thoughts. Flashes of the cougar, getting lost, bits and pieces of her old life. If she ventured out, would she be able to find her way home again? Her gentle song paused as she stared fearfully ahead. Then as if crossing a forbidden line a pale paw rose high up and over an invisible barrier before tentatively crunching down on the snow. She waited and watched, but nothing happened.

The world fell still and silent enough that finally she braved another step, then another, before at last she was standing outside of Dead Empress Backwater. Her head craned over her shoulder to look back at the comforts she was departing. She'd done it before, but alongside Viorel, could she do it alone? Alone. She hated being alone more than anything. The constant anxiety of whether or not alone would return plagued her...now it was different. The worry of if she'd be the one to vanish. Little Song took a deep breath and began to sing again. This time, the notes were shrill, not woven delicately and sweet. She began walking.

The further she walked the bolder her song, and the more melodious it became. Soon enough she was prancing and lost in her tunes and oblivious to how far she'd wandered off. Her paws met the edge of the water as the sun sunk beyond the horizon. Her tune naturally tapered off as she knelt for a drink.

"Speak"

The water around her nose rippled inwards. A chill ran down her spine, causing her hair to lift. Her muscles became rigid and her eyes grew to show the whites. Slowly she shifted them to look up. Had she stumbled across another big scary feline that wanted to eat her? Pale ears tucked downwards.

A boy. She glanced at him across the water, lifting her head in the process of locking her gaze. Had she understood pack life better she might not have done the latter. Her tail gave a small wag between her legs. From a distance, the other pups had seemed too loud for her taste. She would have preferred to avoid them, but here she felt she had no choice. He'd engaged with her first and it seemed rude to walk away.

Malachite hues studied his firey orbs before shifting to the rock he sat on. Viorel had said the water could be dangerous.

"Speak"