and as you leave there are children playing at your feet

"I know you'll come home," she said earnestly and without any trace of doubt. No matter what this strange titan would do to her sister, Poem would persevere. They were all made of stronger stuff than anyone had figured. They were strong and resilient because they had to me. She closed her eyes slowly once more and pressed her cheek against Poem's for a long time. Who knew when they would have time to be alone again? It wouldn't be fair for her to reveal her vulnerabilities to the rest of the pack. This time with Poem was her own quiet respite. There were certain expectations that she had to uphold for the sake of Abaven, especially for its younger members. When they looked back on their youth she wanted them to remember this time as one of safety. She couldn't erase their fears and worries completely, but she wanted them to believe in their alpha and the rest of their pack. They would be comforted and unafraid. "Promise me that you'll be safe and send word if something seems amiss," she insisted. Theory would spend every free moment thinking about her sister until she was home again.

"In the mean time... let's take a walk. I want to show you where else we are besides the plains. Fontamo Bay and Ibis Islands have been claimed in our name. I like the bay," she admitted, nudging Poem's shoulder as she stood up and stretched before setting off at a leisurely pace. "The sound of the ocean is almost like the rapids when we were young. Just a different tempo."