Hushed Willows Remember, magic is chaos.

Backdated a few days, AW!

Following his encounter with the prowlers of the hinterlands, Sundance decided not to carry on with his hunt for Towhee and the Firebirds. Instead he made straight for home, driven by a need to reach his safe place and assure himself that @Teya and the others were unharmed. He doubted those beasts could outrun him, but such haste came with the discomfort of the anxiety they'd instilled in him.

He had not considered that they might follow his trail until he slowed, exhausted, having passed through the bleeding forest. It was then that he grew aware how his route would lead any follower straight toward the willows with ease, but it was too late to turn away. Besides, the Winterwhite knew exactly where the court claimed their land and the wolf-dog knew what they called themselves, so if they wished to cause trouble then they would know where to go.

Oh, how he hoped it would not come to that.

Sundance sent forth a howl for his companions as he drew closer to the willows, one meant to announce his return and offer the information he brought of what could be a threat to their peace.

sundance had returned, and teya unfurled herself from where she had been attempting to mark the stars in a rich mud. night after night she had watched them, committing constellations to memory. she patterned them in the dust beneath a domed leaf, but her attentions whirled away from the task to sundance.
teya emerged between the willows with a light chuff in greeting. he looked well as ever, though greatly strained in terms of his aura. she had taught herself such things too, while he was away. and he bore words of something beyond them. she moved closer, offering a shy wag of her tailtip.

Despite his announcement of return and the promise of valuable information, no one sent their voice up in recognition. The only one who answered was Teya. From between the willows she swept forward, closer to him, and Sundance rose his pale muzzle to regard her softly with tired eyes.

He felt the taut muscles of his travel-worn limbs slacken in relief to look upon the russet fae's unharmed firm, threaten to give way beneath him as he took a shaky step closer. When at last the distance between them was closed, he resisted the urge to reach for her.

"I had hoped you might come along with me," the ashen yearling crooned, not unkindly, as his hindquarters lowered to seat him on the forest floor with the exhale of a wearied breath, "but I am so glad you did not."

sundance seemed less and less well; teya went to him with a low sound of surprise as he settled himself to the earth. the starmaid hesitantly drew in the myriad scents that clung to his coat, and saw a partial picture writ into them.
a breath, a tilt of her head. what had happened upon his journey? she drew closer but did not settle, anxiety setting the rustcream of her hackles to trembling.