Silvertip Mountain Did you find something?

He greeted her with a sway of his tail, but Andalusia could see the emptiness in every inch of him. Or maybe, she could imagine it with a measure only those who had suffered, or caused such pain to another, could imagine. Her jaw tightened, and she glanced down, trying instead to focus on the pattern of her feet against the ground.

Sebastian spoke, and Andalusia continued her slow approach. So they no longer had a need to travel any further than this mountain; he had found his son, at least, but Mato had not been their primary charge or concern. Andalusia only managed a forced smile at the news, but no thing of joy settled in her, and her face fell again. They had turned over every stone to find only dirt and worms beneath. No scent, no track. Their search was over; as far as they knew, Pearl and Nova were gone.

Andalusia didn't share the same hope as Sebastian, and the levity in his voice grated against her. But she managed to hold her tongue, though her teeth pressed tightly against each other. There had been no word nor sign of the girls for nearly two moons. If they had any intention of returning, they would have already. They were gone - but age had wisened the Ostrega, and where she would have once exploded with cutting words to release the build of stress within her chest, she opened her mouth more slowly, and calculated her approach - though she couldn't keep a certain edge from her voice. She was tired, worn, and emotionally exhausted. Everything ached, but she would try to hold herself together. For him.

"Maybe." If only she could just reassure the father that that's exactly what they would find. But Andalusia was not that type of girl - had never been. Any way she looked, the odds were not stacked in their favour, and she clenched her jaw before saying, "But maybe they're not. Then what?" He had to keep living - that was the answer - but that was something even she, for the longest time, had been unable to do.