Her feet left pawprints in the sand. A reflection that she was still here.
Still alive, despite it all. Deep scars decorated the area just under her chin, carving across her jawbone in twin lines. One ivory tooth, broken on the tooth of another. It didn’t matter much to Minsang, a molar was a noble sacrifice.
She had meant to kill, but she had almost been killed. It was how it was in the wilds.
Even with infection-stink still on her fur, Minsang carved a path through the desert for the ravine she had left behind, though it had not been meant.
Minsang!
Candle was overjoyed when she spotted her in the distance. She ran to her, calling out to
@Sari and
@Zoug and
@Koa — but her joy was cut short when she came within a distance to catch the scent of infection on Minsang. She had returned, but she was hurt! Infected!
The priestess went to her all the same, but more subdued now.
Wolf?
She questioned solemnly, wanting to sniff her all over but hanging back for now, aware that Minsang may not want to be approached.
Candle.
Familiar, familiar faces, familiar scents, everything familiar.
Minsang’s overworked muscles sighed relief as she sagged her way forward, towards the dark shape of the woman. She flashed her a little grin, barely there before it vanished behind the stone of her face again.
Foaming.
She answered, gesturing to her mouth.
I thought. I was wrong.
Never again.
S'ari is skippable!
S'ari was still recovering from her long illness. She heard Candle's call and got wearily to her paws to answer it. Soon after, she caught the scent of infection on the wind.
Oh no. Not another one, she thought, dreading what she might see, wondering someone
else had fallen ill.
It was Minsang, whom she had not even realized had left the Ravine. Candle had gotten there first, so S'ari hovered in the background, watching, listening, still too tired to speak much.
Ko'a is skippable as well unless needed otherwise.
They were returning, the coyote. There was
@Midas and
@Talisman now around and Sari was regaining her strength evenly. Soon, she thought (at least by how the air was around Candle and Zoug) there would be pups in the coming spring.
Ko'a couldn't help but grin as life returned to the lands, as it had done so time and time again with the seasons back in Home Tribe.
Now, another has come. This one is not new, but returned. Ko'a only knew her by scent alone and she carried scent of ill-old infection and new scars to her features.
The sands welcome Tribe-sister back.
Ko'a greets and makes to stand at her cousin's side.