She wasn't much more than a wisp in her current state. Of course, that's what happened when a child went and got themselves lost. Rowana had nothing to show for her adventures other than an empty stomach and willowy form. This was supposed to be a period of growing into an adult frame yet she still seemed so small, fragile against the world.
Her spirits were still high, though! Exhaustion eating away at her but she did her best to smile through it all. Rowana kept putting one worn paw in front of the other. She just had to keep imagining warm thoughts. The feeling of her parents up against her or the shelter from the wind that a den provided. Her tail swayed easily behind her.
She could feel the warmth already. Or perhaps that was the cold getting to her a bit too much.
The masked girl could have sworn her imagination was far too real. She had just been imaging being snuggled tight between her family when a familiar form came into view. Brows furrowed for a brief moment, squinting, as she tried to confirm or deny what she was seeing. It couldn't be, could it? Perhaps her exhaustion had settled in so much that she was truly seeing her father. He looked so real - even smelled real!
"Dad?" She called out weakly taking a few bold steps towards the approaching figure. "Dad!" Rowana managed to be a little more lively this time. Bright eyes that once seemed dull with tired and loneliness burst at the seams with pure joy. Her underweight form was ready to make contact with the sturdy form of her father even if she might not handle rough housing so well just yet.
Her tail whipped behind her, a soft delicate whine from her filling the air between them.
sorry for the wait! :c
@Mawk
Had she been in better shape to be feisty perhaps she would have rolled her eyes. Of course it was her! Ro! Despite a lacking form she was still the honey furred girl with a mask of earthen tones. She was still, for the most part, her normal self. If she could have it her way everything would go back to normal and her wayward travels would have been nothing more than a long dream.
Yes! Yes!
She finally found the voice to cry out in response. Rowana wanted to seek out the warmth of her father's coat. For once the confident girl didn't care if her parents scolded her. She was just happy to even seem them. Well, one of them for now.
I missed you.
Rowana spoke softly. She was doing her best to not cry despite all of the emotions bubbling inside of her.
She would have laughed at his question had she not been so tired. I went to find something to bring home to mom and you. I didn't realize how far out I had gone and by then I was lost!
The most crushing detail of all was that she had nothing to show for her time away except for her thin frame. Perhaps she should have stayed gone till she found something worthwhile. Granted Rowana knew that in the grand scheme of things she likely would have ended up withering into nothing had she been gone a few more weeks.
Are...are you mad?
The honey-kissed girl knew that her father had every right to be but that didn't make the pill any easier to swallow.
One more from each of us to go ahead and wrap it up? we can have a more updated thread for them<3
She held a sly smile at his teasing as her tail beat at the brisk air behind her. Her bright eyes closed as he licked his head. While her time away had been an adventure to be had, Rowana did not mind being home again. The presence of her parents (granted only one was currently present) was perhaps the greatest thing the girl could ever wish to find.
I'm sure I can handle it.
The masked girl said with a mischevious smile. Nothing could beat being smothered in kisses rather than being scolded. Besides, she'll have to deal with my cuddles.
Rowana teased back. The girl planned on burying herself deep into her mother's warm fur once she came across her.
Do ya wanna lead the way home?
She asked with a small sheepish grin. Perhaps it would be best to be led rather than wandering by her own whims.