Her steps were stiff, eyes looking straight ahead as she slowly weaved her way through the familiar paths of the Thicket of Secrets. Only her ears were turned back, listening for the smallest sign of movement behind her. Secretly, she longed to have him near her, to feel his heat next to her, hear his breath in her ears, but she was too stubborn to simply turn around, to forgive him without question. He'd hurt her, badly, even if he wasn't ultimately at fault, she was too angry to ignore that.

The Woodlands were calming down, the golden-orange light of the setting sun coloring the forest like it was on fire. Suddenly, the similarly bright colored shewolf remembered something that she hadn't thought of for over a year; how her father used to call her his little sunset. The memory made her feel hollow, her family was so far away, who knew what might have happened to them in the past year, they could all be dead..! Darkness crept into her with the thought, making her shiver despite the warmth of the evening sun; Then I'm all alone... Even with close friends and a strong connection to her pack, Coal was the only family she really had left. And he was her family. She loved him, more than she had ever loved anyone, even her own blood kin, without him she was not complete.

Stopping up in a spot where the canopy was a little less dense, the orange girl lifted her head, turning her eyes to the darkening sky. The brightest of the stars were just beginning to appear, their light still pale in the reddening glow of the sun. Standing like that, she remembered something more of her father; once, she had asked him: but if I'm the sunset, what about mom? Her mother's fur had been an even deeper red than her own, not tainted by the grey hairs she had inherited from her dad. Her cheery sire had gotten this strange light in his eyes at the question, looking over at the red woman with the strangest, small yet unbelievably brilliant smile; your mother? He had said, voice filled with a warmth he saved only for her; She's no sun, she's a FORESTFIRE.

Aideen sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, once more feeling tears press behind her lids. When she opened them again, she felt her mind clearer than it had been for a while. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head, looking for the russet form in the growing shadows. Her copper irises shimmered as she breathed again, then spoke, voice soft and laced in warmth; "You... You said you were hurt? Let me look." At the last words, her voice firmed, an authoritative note coating the order, though her lips quivered slightly; My Coal...

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