She had returned to the lake only to find that all her herbs were wasted in the raid of her den. Her only reaction had been to sigh and move on as quickly as possible, fearing that the predator that she now knew for certain was a bear would return. It wasn't fair but she didn't see a reason to really get too upset about it. Some predators were just too stupid to realize the trouble they made for her. It was the wrong season for herbs too. She was out of motherwort and thanks to that her heat was worse than she could remember them ever being. To top it off she had only caught a mere two mice today, and no fish. Of course it was due to the season but it still didn't help.

She trotted quietly through the forest on the island. Her ears were pricked for signs of predators and prey alike. She hadn't seen the Todd almost all season so she figured he took no interest in her, which might be for the best. She was getting pretty old anyway and this next winter would likely be her last season so she wouldn't likely have to worry too much. It wasn't that she didn't want kits, no actually it was quite the opposite, she just didn't want to have them and then have to raise them alone. Not that she knew dart all that well so she couldn't say if he'd stay. Though to be honest he had no reason to so she didn't want to put him in that sort of situation if he didn't want to be in it. Stop thinking about him, it's not like he likes me. So I shouldn't think about him in such a way. but then again the romantic in her couldn't help it. Maybe we are meant to be soul mates. After all fate put him in my life for a reason. Right? That was how she truly looked at it.

She stopped at the side of the ocean here with the breeze blowing across her back towards the mainland. It was starting to warm with the coming spring. She closed her eyes then and took a deep breath trying to clear her head. She figured her heat must be getting to her since she couldn't go without thinking about dart now at least once every day.

>>Things back home were...not so great. Bass was gone, and he was heartbroken. He wasn't sure how to feel about it, really. Bass hadn't said goodbye. And he didn't know whether to be angry or sad about it. Feeling like the world was starting to crash down around him with the thought of his best friend just up and leaving, he left Abaven lands. He sought out the only other one he could think of. The girl he'd met by the lake. Amaryllis. He wasn't sure what would happen when he found her. If he found her. He had gone to where they first met and she wasn't there. Her den seemed to have been ravaged, and worry gnawed at him. Was she okay? Was she hurt? Teeth clenched as he searched. He hadn't seen her in a while, pack life had been getting the best of him and he hadn't been able to find more time to leave and find her. He wondered if she thought that he forgot about her, and his heart sunk further. Luckily for him, he had finally managed to pick up her scent. He was an excellent tracker, after all, and was proud of that skill just as much as he was proud of his fishing. He followed her trail without missing a beat. The todd bounding after it as fast as he could. After the better part of the morning, he'd found where it led to. He paused on the farthest edges of the firefly lake, the sea winds sweeping against his fur. It was cold, he wasn't gonna lie. But he would continue his search until he found her well and alive. Luckily, he wouldn't have to be jumping into the frigid sea. He'd found a small sliver of sandbar that would take him straight to the island, and he'd be there in no time! Small mismatched paws raced across, the wind buffeting his fur and the sand flying behind him. And finally, he reached the other side. Still, his race to find her didn't stop until he actually did. Her scent led him down the beach line, and in a matter of minutes, there she was! "Heeey!!!" He called out to her. "Speak"

Several moments of silence stretched out before her ear canted to the sound of approach and her ice blue eyes turned to view who it was as he called out. Her heart jumped out of her chest it felt like. It seemed fate was to be putting her in the path of him once more. He was coming fast so she turned to face him and sat, even as the wind buffeted her fur. Today was nice. The water was cold but the air was warmer than yesterday, granter it was still cold and snow was gathered around the lands. She gave him a smile, gentle and kind. She was never one for anything but such gestures. She could feel her heart pounding though and worried he would hear it in her chest. She waited until he was near enough to her for her to speak. once he was she greeted him. "Dart, it's been a while. How are you?" HEr ears perked and she waited in silence then.

She was sure her scent would get to him though if she wagged her tail or mover it wrong so she tentatively and carefully wrapped it around her paws. As much as her body wanted to she refused to let it get aid from just anywhere. Her cheeks burned even with the thought of allowing such a thing.

>>He couldn't quite describe how happy he was to see her. An odd feeling to him, really. He had never really been around others of his own kind for years, but to know that now he wasn't alone felt great. For a moment, everything that was on his shoulders seemed to disappear, and when he approached her, he couldn't help but smile. The male came to a stop, seemingly grinning from ear to ear. He was ecstatic to see her, and even more so to know that she was okay and unhurt. He didn't realize her scent quite yet on account of the wind on his back, but he also wasn't quite paying attention, either. When she greeted him and asked how he was, his smile faltered. "Well...uh..." He wasn't quite sure what to say, and suddenly all the weight had come back to him. He sighed, admitting defeat to himself as he sat down, ears drooping. "I uh...I left my pack...Bass disappeared...so...I guess there was nothing left there for me..." It hurt like hell to say that. Abaven had been his home since he was a yearling, but it hurt even more when he remembered the fact that Bass hadn't even said goodbye to anyone but Vali. He was heartbroken over it..."He...didn't even say goodbye...we were best friends I thought..." He looked down at his paws, trying to hide the pain in his eyes. He knew friendships came and went, but this was more than a friendship. He saw Bass as a brother, as his only family. And it hurt so much that he took off without so much as a word... "Speak"

She listened and as he said thin he weren't good and he had left his pack be a use his best friend had left without a word to him she pressed her ears back and regarded him with a puzzled look. If they were best friends she didn t see a reason why bass would of left without saying goodbye. Maybe something had happened to him. That was the only reason she could think of. Should they look for his friend? "Are you sure your friend actually left? I hate to sound negative but maybe something's happened to him and he couldn't come to you? Maybe we should go look for him..." she had her rose colored glasses on today it seemed. Even though she knew the likelihood of finding someone that didn't eant to be found was unlikely. She gave him a soft smile then trying her best to cheer him back up with it. She stood and quietly moved towards him. She had an idea. She'd help take his mind off it at least for a little while. She went to pass him and as she did she tilted her head slightly, inviting him wordlessly with the motion.

"Come on. I know where there's a great spot tofish here and I can try to collect some herbs on the way back. Maybe you just need a good friend for now." she angled her biddy towards the lake here and started by taking a few steps towards it before looking back at him to see if he was coming.