Phoenix Maplewood It was inevitable.

She had set out to follow the mysterious stranger at the borders - now Alpha of Porcupine Ridge, but Sesi was not to know that - and had gotten lost within hours of setting out. Fear had rooted her to the little glade where the realization had struck, and instead of systematically searching for her own trail and following it home, she had remained in place for weeks. Only when things grew desperate did she even try - and when she finally did, it took less than two hours to get back.

If the fates had conspired to bring her back, they had not worked hard enough - Sesi arrived too late to say goodbye to her mother. Her last words to Scarlett had been something along the lines of "you're being too loud". Well, now that would no longer be a problem - ever again.

She crept up on Reek and Desna, staring at the sombre gathering with big, fearful eyes. Her voice was a whispery wheeze when she spoke. "Where's mum?" It didn't occur to start with an apology; the trauma of being lost had corrupted all but the most basic of social functions.