Never not beautiful

Night was falling and that's when she made her way out of Abaven territory. She avoided everyone now more than ever since she discovered what the extent of her injuries looked like. Her brothers knew about it, and they would be the only ones to know until the bandages came off for good. She had fresh bandages wrapped around one side of her face, and she was still coming to terms with how she would look for the rest of her life. Or she was trying to, anyway. She avoided looking at her reflection whenever she drank water, unable and unwilling to see her scarred face. She would have to get used to the partial blindness that now plagued her right eye, but at least it wasn't worse. She could see shadows with that eye, silhouettes of the world around her. She was luckier than most, she supposed. She still had good sight in her left eye...but it didn't make her feel any better.

She walked quietly as the sun went down and the moon started to come up, her left ear was folded tightly against her head while the right was still painful to move. Not that she could move it much anyway, it was bound and pack with a poultice that would hopefully take the edge off the burning sensation she still felt. She wasn't sure if it was her mind playing tricks, making her feel ghost pains or if the after effects of the fire would forever remain. One thing was certain...the scars would remain. She was no longer beautiful, and she felt like anyone who saw her now would think her a freak.

With a deep breath, she limped along towards the falls. The sound of rushing water which normally would have been soothing reminded her that even this place would always be more beautiful than her. No doubt she'd struggle with insecurities when her wounds were finally healed as much as they could be...she hadn't really stopped crying since the other night. But her tears wouldn't fall anymore and all she could do was sob quietly when the world was sleeping. But tonight? Tonight she needed to get away. She could hardly sleep with the night terrors that plagued her dreams now...

Her head lifted slightly when she heard something up ahead, causing her to freeze and stop in her tracks. Up ahead, she could smell the water and...dad? Guilt and apprehension started to eat at her. She hadn't seen him for what felt like forever, but she couldn't mistake that scent. What would he think of her? Not only had she been badly burned, but she bore a permanent limp as well from the night that mother wolf tried to kill her for accidentally killing her child...that secret would likely go to her grave, but oh how the guilt of that memory ate away at her soul every passing day.

Afraid to confront him, she slunk forward until she could barely see him through the bushes. She slid onto her belly, pushing her way beneath the foliage until she felt she was hidden enough. She missed her father dearly...she wanted nothing more than to run to him and cry in his fur. But she was so ashamed of herself and how things had turned out, she was afraid he would be disappointed in her...and she couldn't stomach that thought.