Ouroboros Spine water woman

Seal had waited for a response to her howl at Redhawk Caldera… but when one did not immediately come and overwhelming anxiety caused her to flee.

She traveled Northwest, past Moonspear’s faded borders, towards the Spine.

She chewed her lip pensively.

In the end, Seal sent up a howl to announce herself at Moonglow’s borders.

Ajei heard the call and recognized it. She drew herself towards it of her own accord. She would greet her childhood friend herself. No one else needed too.

Hello Seal! She called out in warmth. A wag of her tail. Happy to see her.

Seal felt her heart grow ten times bigger when she laid eyes upon one of her oldest friends.


“Ajei!” Seal crowed as she broke out into a gallop. Her tail wagged furiously behind her. Neither Moonspear nor Redhawk Caldera had elicited the feeling of coming home. But seeing Ajei and stepping across Moonglow’s borders – something just felt right. Like home.

“I’m m-m-missed you!” Seal fake-cried as she threw her arms around the red shoulders of her friend.

The questions began to tumble out of her. “How have you been? Has Arrluk proposed yet? How is Moonglow?”

Seal giggled as she stepped back. “Sorry its…it’s just been so long!”

It had been too long. Amd she has lost to many. But she met her friend with grace and a smile. 

A small smile. all is well! Yes he did. We have gotten married. I welcomed two daughters. Chinook and Ahna. Twins.

Ajei stepped back to look at her friend
 How are you?

“You what?!“ Seal nearly shouted.

She was wifed up! And a mamasita! Had so much time really passed that Seal had completely missed all these milestones?

By comparison, Seal’s life was colorless.

“Been better, but – Ajei! You’re a mom?” she quickly pivoted, not wanting to bog down their reunion with her own dismal stories. “What’s that like? Wait, hold on – ” she raised a paw, as if to stop herself from blabbering.

“I feel like we have so much tae catch up on. I came hoping I could ask Kukutux and Aiolos if I could stay with Moonglow for a time. I’d be really nice tae reconnect.”

Ajeis ears fell to her head, but laughter followed. Breathy, light. Bird trilling. 

I am. Two girls

But the next words were like cold water and it almost left her gasping. Seal didnt know. How horrible it always felt to give bad news.

You can stay. Arrluk and I run moonglow. We lost Aiolos and Kukutux in the summer

Seal saw Ajei’s expression change, and read it like a book. Kukutux and Aiolos were no more.

Lost could have bene subjective. Did they leave? Had they gone missing?

But somewhere deep in Seal’s heart she knew they had died.

Seal felt the weight of a thousand stones on her heart. “Oh, Ajei…” she said, and moved swiftly to embrace her friend. “Ah’m so sorry…”

She sniffled as tears began to well in her eyes. Then, a promise. “I will stay,” she sniffled.

Ajei hated giving bad news. Hated it with a passion it hurt and it made others hurt and it was something that was not great. Had she been older, she would have handled it more gracefully perhaps. But how could you tell someone with grace such hard things?

Ajei took her friends embrace and held her tightly. Her own throat hurting and tightening. 

I am glad to know you will stay.