what now?

”There’s too many memories here.” That resonated with Athena more than she wanted to admit. Everywhere she looked she saw Amalia and her family and their children. For the longest time that was the reason that she stayed so she could cling to those memories, but now it felt like it was haunting her. She really didn’t have an answer at first when Ara turned the question back toward her. Her thoughts had been similar to Ara’s - should she stay or try traveling for a while? Her first instinct had been to stay for her children in case they came back... but she knew most of them wouldn’t and if they did they didn’t need her. They were all grown adults now. Even her youngest were old enough to be having their own babies now.

”I don’t think I want to stay,” she finally replied after what was probably a longer pause than she realized. She glanced at the empty land around them and only felt sadness. ”I don’t know where else to go, but I know I don’t want it to be here.” She looked back to Ara with a slight smile. ”I still owe you a trip to the North, don’t I? It could be worth it to wait until Spring, but... I’d still like to travel with you if you want to.” Ara had quickly become her only real friend. She honestly didn’t know who else she would stay with if not with Ara. Perhaps Jayne, but her daughter had been on her own for quite a while now. Athena was sure her headstrong girl wouldn’t want to cling to her mother’s side for long. “I suppose I would want to find a new pack eventually, but I’m not in a hurry for it.”