I'd Give My Heart

With all her heart Philomena wanted to return to the weeping woods to see the damage cast upon her old home… but going any further than Algoma Prairie with Memento in tow had proved to not be a wise choice. The lands still seemed bleak beyond and anxiety kept her from traveling with her little one and Cel… thank goodness the rainbow marked man had settled with her daughter to keep her occupied while Philomena scouted around. She had a reason for heading out this way alone though…

No Face, her companion, had finally returned. She had thought the bat hawk had been lost in the eruption and found herself comforted that he had not perished. He had even uttered the name of one of her sons from her first litter and, that alone, was enough to have Philly place the request on Cel to stay with her daughter while she went to comb the lands in the west on the off chance that somehow one of her children from her first litter may be out there. It was enough to make her body tremble, desperation pushing her to find any of the three that may still be alive.

Her search lead her to this cavern… the place No Face had reported seeing the brown and tan wolf with a mane. Anxiety welled in her gut at what she may find her, ears flicking back as she started into the cavern alone. No Face would be around outside… but he refused to enter the cavern, lit or not, and warned the she wolf of contact with the mushrooms that gave off the bluish-purple glow.

She searched for a while but… the scents there, for the most part were stale… and those that were fresher belonged to strangers. A sigh passed the she wolf’s lips as she lowered her rump to the ground and lifted her gaze to the stalactites hanging above.

Would she ever see any of her other children again…?

Was she just chasing ghosts at this point?

A soft sigh passed her lips and Philomena closed her eyes.

She knew that, until she saw their still forms, she would not give up hope on seeing Evan, Nau, or Dylas alive. They were her children… no matter what. She would not give up on them no matter how many years passed.

She took a few moments, calming herself with some deep breathing, and let herself collect her thoughts. She didn’t know where they were going from here… if the weeping woods were still unable to be visited it was hardly fair to drag Cel and Meme with her… she’d meant to have a talk with the rainbow male anyway. A better one than their last one…

She opened her eyes and rose, turning as she heard the sound of claws against stone.

She flicked her ears back and became guarded, calling out to the stranger further up the cavern.

“Friend or foe?” Her voice too held a tone of being wary... she couldn't risk herself. Not when she had family to return to.