Days, weeks, months passed by without the woman knowing. Constant searching was her only motive; the only thing that kept her going was the thought that she’d see the face of her lost daughter on the other side. However, every step that Athena took, Aphrodite seemed to get further and further away. Just as Athena thought she could reach out and embrace her child, she would only grasp the empty air where her child once was. Her searching almost became futile and after several months of nothing, her body begged her to stop. Skin and bones was only left of the once regal woman, a woman that once ruled a thriving pack and had everything she needed and more. Now, all was left was an empty carcass with a cold, beating heart. Her life had fallen apart in seconds, before she even knew what was happening.
Instinct took over and her faithful paws led her in the direction of what she once called home. Relic Lore was the only real home she ever had, but even then she had been hurt beyond repair. Before the weeks and months where she searched for her lost daughter, she had begun rebuilding her life within Magnolia Glen besides her troubled son and friend, Inkheart. She was content enough; however, the mother needed to know how her daughter was within the safety that she thought was Whisper Caverns. Her curious nature took her to the brinks of their borders, but scented no Aphrodite. Circling the territory, she recovered the faint trail of her young daughter leaving the confines of the Caverns. Following the rebellious girl, she assumed she’d find her easily enough, just a little ways off the borders. However, her hopes of returning any time soon were slowing diminishing.
It took weeks, months for the faithful mother to finally stop her death trail. If she was to go any further, Athena wouldn’t last any longer. Desperation and hunger was setting in and she was once again a broken soul, with a shattered heart. The trail of Aphrodite had gone cold, disappearing out of nowhere. Athena gave everything that she had to find her daughter, but it wasn’t enough. Turning back towards home was the toughest thing she had ever done. It took so much strength to give up on her own daughter. She feared she wouldn’t have any more strength to get back to her Elliot. Part of her knew that her son would probably never forgive her once again for leaving him once again, but she knew he was save with Inkheart and Magnolia Glen. They were strong; they would keep him alive while she may not.
Envisioning the face of her only son and Inkheart kept the woman going. She needed them. She needed someone to comfort her shattered heart and soul. She needed a knight in black shining armor. She needed strength. But would she get that or would they turn her away just like everyone else has in her life. Only time will tell. The earth beneath her paws began to change. She could feel the energy radiating from the lands of her home. She was so close. Coming in from the west, she will be entering the Thicket of Secrets first. Nina lived here, or used to. Who knows what has happened while she was gone. However, she would love to see her one-eyed friend, even if she was on bad terms with her brother. Remembering the time when those feelings were dramatically switched. Nowadays, Athena was more civil. However, those who crossed her path too many a time, not so much. Before she knew it, she was crouching low to avoid the tangled mess of the forest. A grim smile crossed her face at the thought that she was one step closer to reuniting with her son and Inkheart, she could only hope they were still home.