her mother and sisters were gone. her biological mother was gone. her brother was gone. mahler had set up a whole new life with his family as if rivenwood had never existed. and now caracal had left too. 
she'd gone back, their trip having turned into far longer than a week. she informed @Lane and @Issorartuyok and @Tuuluuwaq of the happenings: that they'd gone to a mountain and caracal had sustained an injury, that mahler had tended them, and that her friend had simply left. it was clear he was not in atautsikut.
now as the dawn rose, turning the distant treetops to gold, heda felt empty inside. it had been this way once before and that was why she had changed her name.
this felt different.
she wondered if she should disappear too.