Spectral Woods blow a kiss, fire a gun

all welcome, special mention to @Nalda tho

She hadn't been this clear headed in what felt like years, but surely had only been months. It was queer how crisp the air was within her throat and how much she could taste from the nothing of it. She nearly lost herself in the experience alone, in being reminded of just how vibrant the world really was, especially this time of year.

Her creamy paws would draw to a stop and she would visibly shake her head to redirect her thoughts onto the only goal she'd known since recovering from the sight of... from being taught the truth about life. Ember closed her eyes and pictured molten gold, strawberry red fur and the scent of magnolia flowers. She thought of @Kyna, and her heart beat stronger. One deep breath later, and she was off again, toward that towering range.

It was a constant pattern, shaking off the thorough training of the Hounds for the one thing that she couldn't convince herself was inconsequential. She still accepted the turbulent flow of the world as a force she would never be able to help nor hinder, but there still had to a place for her, and if it didn't particularly matter where, why not let it be this choice? From desire stemmed suffering, but without it...

That was why she had left, she supposed. She couldn't wholly accept their philosophy, not if it meant never seeing Kyna again. But now she was close, and as long as the other woman and her small pack were still there, if Ember could for once not be too late, then she could fall back into the ease of compliance at her friend's side and find her own place within those teachings.

Just a few more days was all she needed.

I think there's a flaw in my code

Lila had thought the restlessness was gone. Rather from the coming promise of winter, or a part of her blood it came back. She did not like what it craved.

The woods she thought would only ever be her desire. Nothing had made her so happy to return to them. Lately, she often found herself outside the Bend in search. She wanted to believe it was because she wanted to find Ice. She wasn't so sure there wasn't more to it. Found herself conflicted daily, especially with how it was a now a secret she didn't want to confess to anyone.

Instead she found herself the furthest west she'd ever gone alone. She ignored temptations of a hunt, and had long been calculating how long it would take her to climb the mountain. Now, she could do it with ease. Despite how an unknown source beckoned to her she did not continue. It would be wrong of her to go through with it, and not tell her mother. Lila would want to stay, even perhaps go enough distance to see the Heights for herself. See the land her sister had claimed for herself. Did Kyna know this feeling of wanderlust? Did it come with age? A plan began to form her head. She'd just need the right words.

Ember began to pick up that she wasn't quite alone as she picked her way through the forest. The scent of the Bend flitted past her nostrils and she tensed, well aware that her leave had likely left a bad taste in the pack's mouth, especially since it would have been up to @Nalda to tell them all why. She was certain the wretched girl would have made her out to be quite the villain.

Yet as she carefully made her way and the trees between the two wolves began to thin, pieces of the other's form peeked through and soon she was able to place them altogether and form the picture of Lila. Ember relaxed. The girl had always been docile and amiable. Despite being Aponi's daughter, she doubted she would give her any trouble. In fact, maybe she could fill her in a little, let her know how Arion and Lena were doing.

"Hey," she called out, now ambling her way to the younger girl, "Lila!"

I think there's a flaw in my code

Her thoughts were interrupted. There was a wolf, but something familiar about this one. Something that made her tighten her teeth. For a second the young Aquila did not move, even though she debated about it. She could hear Ember making her way, closer. Soon calling to her if they might have been friends. They could have been, but she barely had memory of this one.

Ears erect, she turned in time to face her. There was no harshness in her features, but she stood with a coolness as her blue eyes raked her in. She had no idea why she had gone, or that boy. Did it matter? "Passing through?" Dark brows were perched over her eyes. A questioning look she tried to keep neutral, even if she was readily armed to tell her she best keep moving.

Ember's amiable greeting was met with cold eyes and words that stung, whether the girl meant them to or not. Yeah, that seems about right, she thought to herself as her ears leaned back and tail curled at the tip behind her legs. Properly shamed, she almost dismissed herself then and there. She was certainly owed no favors by the Bend wolf, and while she had her reasons for departing the way she had, and still believed them to be good ones, Ember would not lie to herself and say she'd done anything other than desert.

Still, she really did want to know about Arion, at least.

"Heading home, actually," she replied without tension, nose nodding over her shoulder toward the mountain, "to @Kyna.

I just wanted to ask how things were, but I understand if you don't want to talk to me. Is... is Arion alright, at least?"