we survive, it's what we do [ABAVEN SPRING MEETING]

She'd spent the past few days patrolling the plains endlessly to make sure it was safe for re-occupation. Once she was sure that Abaven would be able to live somewhat comfortably in part of their home territory, she returned to Ibis and called them across the channel to meet once more in their homeland. It was what Shaye wanted.

Her heart twisted miserably in her chest. Calling a meeting without Shaye felt like a huge betrayal, even if she knew that her mentor had no way of calling the pack together from beyond the grave. Theory called for the pack to surround her near the edge of the plains where it bordered the rapids. She took her place on a flat, large rock and waited for members to trickle in at their own pace. The water that normally surged in the springtime was relegated to a trickle - it must be blocked somewhere further up stream. What water that was there was dirty and churned with ash. She hoped it was cleaner at the origin.

The items for discussion today were all painful. Only a small spot of joy remained: they would be able to move back towards the mainland. Ibis Island was still an important part of their territory; the sky was clear there and the water was untainted. There were too many young members that she didn't wish to harm by forcing them to live out their youth under bleak skies with only dirty water to drink.