Hitting close to home

Once Bramble's own scouting mission had been fulfilled in Boreas, she had raced home to relay details to her father. Her raven had yet to return to her after she sent it home earlier, and that alone planted a seed of worry. Was her companion okay? Or had he fallen to whatever thing lie in wait?

The older Carpathian princess was barely through Wildberry Grove when a familiar voice rang out over the plains. Ember calling for the siblings? Bramble's ember gaze scanned the layout of the Starlit Plains to see not only Ember, but Dusk too headed toward the southwest. Were they going to scout something there because of the tremors beneath the ground? What had Ember seen from the castle that would make her go that way?

Even though she was exhausted and ready to rest, Bramble picked up her pace once more and made her way instead to where her two sisters were headed. It didn't take long to catch up. Inhaling a deep breath, Bramble sucks in the salty air to help wake her up. There was nothing like being home that couldn't refresh her energy. Even though it was dark at night, she could practically sense where her sisters stood. Their forms appearing in the night as if she hadn't been gone for weeks.

"Couldn't miss out on the fun now could I?" Bramble's joyful tones hid the obvious unease that was clear in her gaze. Though she's glad her sister's are okay, there's no doubt that something amiss in their lands. What was going on beneath the surface that was causing all of this?

"Bramble Carpathius"