referencing this. bye moonbrook, for now?
The absence of Tambourine was concerning. Though she hadn't spent much time with him, she felt his disappearance just as keenly as those near to him. It wasn't immediately clear what happened, or where he even was, and her wails of her worries were growing so loud she could barely focus on her daily tasks. So today, instead of going out to fill the caches or tidy up, she struck out west past the borders into the Cedar Sweep in search of the missing yearling.
Hours passed, and still she found nothing lending any credible trail for her to follow—only recent deer tracks, foraging birds, and the occasional raccoon. She'd idly wandered beneath the shadow of the mountains and walked parallel to the raging river, full to burst with snowmelt, with her pale form barely obscured by the trees that clung to the banks. Still nothing. No sign of the toeless yearling, nor any indication he'd been here at all.
When she emerged from the trees to stand atop the granite cliffs that lined this stretch of the river, the sun was already setting on the horizon, and the world was going dark. She lifted her nose to the skies, drew a large breath from the misty air while closing her eyes to listen to the rapids as they crashed through the canyon. Tambourine would return to them, somehow. Someday. She just had to believe.
Suddenly, without warning, she felt a great force slam into her. She stumbled forward while trying to catch herself and slipped on the slick rocks, sending front over the edge while her hind legs scrabbled for purchase. She dangled precariously over the edge and she was suddenly faced with the frothing white teeth of the rapids thirty feet below. Moonbrook cried out as teeth sank into her hips, biting deep, and tearing through gristle and bone. Then, she was falling. She twisted and writhed as she fell screaming into the churning abyss.
Above, with teeth stained red, stood her assailant. They waited, scanning the waters, until they were satisfied. The creature turned and headed back into the woods, tail swishing, and a crooked smile pulling at their lips.
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