and as you leave there are children playing at your feet

She hardly slept these days. The volcano still lurked on the horizon, spitting ash ominously into the sky. Theory had hoped that relocating partially into their lands might help soothe her but the sight of the volcano just turned her stomach. She didn't share her feelings with anyone, not even Rhyme, but every day she spend back in their old lands aged her a month. It was hard not to stew in her feelings.

Patrolling was at least a good use of her time. Tracking the familiar pathways on the outskirts of their lands brought her some vague sense of relief, if only because the muscle memory was so familiar that she could turn her brain off completely. Catching wind of a familiar scent, Theory followed it straight to Poem. She had kept her distance from her sister since she'd arrived, trying to give her and Motif privacy and time to grieve in their own way. As much as she wanted to lean hard on brave Poem, she was alpha now. Leaning on someone else wouldn't do.

"Oh, Poem," she sighed, her greeting full to the brim with unspoken emotions. Theo rushed to close the distance and covered Poem in affection gestures. She ran her cheek endlessly across her sister's ruff, breathing in her familiar scent. It was a bittersweet smell; there was no mistaking her for Shaye's daughter when they were this close. "I missed you so much."