The journey had been arduous, seemingly endless, and to Sorrel's beaten body, like a death sentence. When they finally made it, the boy's call was loud enough to pierce the throbbing spots of her head, but she lacked the energy necessary to wince. They waited in a painfully prolonged silence until another stranger approached. Just as Sorrel was settling into submission, she heard something that seemed to momentarily bring back the energy that she needed to move like a child again.
Kieran.
She gasped and took a slight side step away from the boy, examining him as if to see whether or not this could be him. Him! Oh, him. Sorrel couldn't remember the way that her brother had looked when they were pups, and she doubted that it would have mattered much, but if this was him then he would have known her just as well as she thought she knew him. Sorrel
, she whispered, just before losing balance once more.
They waited in silence, snow covering the pairs paws as Kieran's emerald gaze followed the horizon - soon enough, a familiar face came into view. He gave her a broad smile, chuffing in greeting as his eyes landed on her, a small puff of frosted air releasing through his nose. "Pema," He spoke, "Congrats on becoming a leader. You passed me pretty quick, huh?" A giggle escaped the yearling's maw, though truly he was quite proud of her. She was hard-working for sure. When the wolfess spoke, his focus shifted to the girl who had accompanied him back to Morningside. Though the question she inquired was directed at him, he knew it was for her - the petite one at his side. Yet knowing her previous attempts at speaking, he decided to give an answer himself as well.
"Well, I found her out by the Springs. And she... twisted her ankle I believe. I brought her back here because she would't be able to survive the Winter on her own. I thought we might be able to help her, Pema - what do you think?" It was also true he had a certain fondness for her that he could not quite place. Still, that lingering sense that he knew her remained, and it was a constant whirling thought around his mind. He was almost desperate to know.
He watched as the sandy brown girl took a sudden side step away from him, eyes glazing over as if in pure astonishtment. Kieran raised a brow, then his own eyes widened in bewilderment and shock as she spoke a name. That name. Sorrel. No, it couldn't be... could it? He had always thought... "S-Sorrel..?" He choked out, voice squeaking as his body tensed. Was this really his lost sister? The girl lost her balance, and Kieran's movements were quick in response - propping his side up against hers again. Despite this, his gaze was distant, as if lost in thought. A small tear escaped and rolled down his cheek, and he absently blinked it away before shaking his head. "I don't...je n'y crois pas!... It's really you? Sorrel Marie?"
There was a pause, a near silent gasp, and a moment of clarity set to pass before Sorrel was finally able to comprehend fully what had just happened. A part of her didn’t want to believe it; maybe it was a coincidence, maybe this was a dream. Yes! Maybe this was a dream and Sorrel was lying somewhere comatose, the cold having taken over her body. If she was meant to wake up, god she hear, she wished with all of her might that it didn’t happen before she could give her brother a proper hello.
Sorrel nodded her her head and tried to speak — It’s me, Addy. It’s me! — but the words didn’t make it past the backs of her teeth. Even if she’d had the ability to say something, anything, Sorrel was sure that it would have taken the life out of her. All this time she had been searching for a way back home, and here, home had found her.
Creole is to French what Patois is to English. It might be a little difficult to understand for Kieran but feel free to play it how you wish!
Kieran was saying so much, so quickly; Sorrel had to fight to keep up. After leaving and before returning, during those ten months or so, Maman had barely spoken any English at all. Of course, Sorrel remembered the basics, and there was nothing being said that was too far beyond her vocabulary, but it still took more energy to comprehend than she had to dispose of.
Ki kote papa? Mwen bezwen wè l.
Regardless, she was able to pick up the need behind her brother's voice for her to stay, and Sorrel couldn't think of a reason why she wouldn't.
Okay
, she whispered, then looked at Pema,
I'm not skilled.
That isn't to say that she couldn't learn once she was healed, but her focus had been more on survival than on anything during her childhood.
I need help
, she said, reminding the group of her ailments. Beyond just her ankle, she'd managed to develop frostbite at the base of her tail that'd created a thin black strip of dead skin. Sorrel looked almost mangy and she felt even worse.