The Devil Went Down to the River

Her patience; her tolerance; her care: it was all worn thin. Practically nonexistent. Aslatiel just didn't want to anymore. She didn't need anyone to care for her. She didn't need anyone to care about her. There were two things that she did need. Her children and her freedom. Aslatiel was tired of caring for others and not herself. She'd shouldered the burdens of others for too long.

Sirius had tried to be patient with her over the years and it was because of that patience that she decided to tell him before she left. She could have just taken the pups in the dead of night and disappeared without a trace. She was a damn good hunter and hiding her tracks and scent would have been an easy feat. She felt that she owed at least a goodbye to her father. Surely he would fight her on the matter, but if the rest of her bastard siblings could traipse about the world without a care, then why couldn't it be her turn to do so?

It was night by the time she made it back to the Armada from her trek first to Indigo's band, and then up north to see Ocean. She'd had the whole way back to think about what she wanted for herself and for her children, and she'd decided to leave the Armada. There was nothing for her there except for bad memories. Everywhere she looked she saw Indigo's face. She saw Azure and Mort when he was happy. Aside from Briar, the other batch meant nothing to her. Indigo was gone. Azure was dead. Mort was barely present. There was nothing here that she wanted to protect any longer.

The woman called for her father as she entered back into pack lands. Tonight would not be a good night, but if she got her way, it would be her last in Armada lands for a long time. Maybe she would go north. Maybe west. Somewhere where she'd never been before. She would show her children the world and teach them how to be self sufficient. It would be a grand adventure. It was about time she caught up to her brother's in that department.

"Aslatiel Fatalis"