Fall down, never get back up again

The dove was returning to the plains to stargaze, since her last trip hadn't gone so well. Northerners were appearing every which way, and she was beginning to feel like she would never get to truly enjoy her home again. Not that there was anything she could do about it, the Goddess had long since decreed the rules that were set in stone, and to disobey would be a capital crime. With a sigh, she wandered across the plains in search of a nice little knoll to rest upon and watch the fading stars. Dawn would arrive soon, the sky at the eastern horizon was already changing from black to purple. The spring brought with it her season, and she was experiencing her second heat. However, she didn't let it change how she went about her life. Soon, she would head to the cove and visit her aquatic friends, and see if they had returned from their small migration inland. Perhaps she would do that this afternoon, when it was warm and the sun was out.

As she settled her rump upon the soft grass that wavered with every small breeze, her whiskey tinged gaze would turn itself skyward. The cosmos were infinitely brilliant, and she found she could never be sad when the stars were out. They were far too magnificent for such emotions to remain. Her ebony dipped plume thumped lightly against the terra, a fain smile playing at her inky lips as she looked up at the galaxies far above. One day she would join them, and that didn't scare her. Not one bit. To be among those stars would be a blessing in itself, and for that she would thank the Goddess as her time neared. But that would not be for a long time now, she knew that.

Heavy footfalls grew louder, approaching from behind her. There was an air of distress about, and she whirled around to see what was amiss. Part of her thought it might be Shai, returning from his endeavors with the northern wolves. She still couldn't believe what had happened, even though it was really nothing but a rumor so far. However, his being missing was almost enough to convince the ashen femme. The figure that approached was a young one, despite being very nearly bigger than she was. Their crimson eyes were glassy, and though she knew instantly that this was not one of her fellow tribesmen, that maybe she ought to help. Slowly she would rise to her feet, as this child looked rather clumsy as he stormed across the verdant grassland. She was silent as she moved, not daring to make a sound yet.

As she drew closer, her brows knotted in concern, audits laying closer to her skull. There was the stink of death on him, faintly clinging to his oddly patterned coat. " "Ni o wa ti o dara si, ọmọ?" " Her soft lyrics murmured, similar to the sounds of a calm sea lapping at the shore. She trotted quietly in the same direction as she boy, watching him nervously as he stomped across the terrain. She kept a good deal of space between them, as there was no reason to trust a northerner yet. Still none.