Redtail Rise Starting right now, I'll be strong

Things were so solemn and bizarre that Saena didn't even know how to begin handling them. Her closest companions were husks of their former selves. Arion seemed so far off of normal that he might as well have been a different wolf, and she couldn't help worrying that Reek would throw himself off a cliff if she didn't keep an eye on him. That Smash's departure could affect them this badly not only surprised Saena, but also bothered her. The woman could've taken their loyalty with her when she left, the way they were acting, though she knew Wynter had a part to play as well.

Arion stepped slowly toward her and the Alpha female willed herself to relax at his approach. There was a touch of concern at his sluggish manner, but all he did was press his snout into the side of her neck. She turned her head to rest hers against his cheek, but her eyes went to Reek when he began to speak. She didn't move but for the twitching of her ears in the Beta's direction, not until he'd finished speaking.

Then she lifted her snout and looked fully at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, glancing sidelong at Arion. Something was wrong with him. Saena knew nothing at all about narcotics or how they worked, so the terminology went over her head, but she understood that Arion needed help. "What do you need for... detox?" she asked, tasting the strange, foreign word for the first time.