Redhawk Caldera Globes and maps

Wildfire woke, slowly surfacing from sleep. She yawned and smacked her lips, her eyelids fluttering. They shot open rather suddenly when consciousness poured over her like ice cold water. She stared blankly at the branches overhead as she suddenly remembered that Sebastian was gone and Finley was missing. Heart heavy, she slowly picked herself up off the cold ground, sighing as she rose onto all fours and gave her red pelt a good shake. Magpie had left not so long ago too and Dove had died shortly before that. It just seemed to Wildfire like her family was falling apart around her.

Her parents and godparents were supposed to be the firmest fixtures in her life, yet no one had heard from Finley since Wildfire's own encounter with her at Nocturne Summit. The youth stopped to drink from a puddle, the water settling into her stomach like a cold fist. Something must have happened to prevent Finley from returning home; there was no other acceptable explanation. She wouldn't just walk out on her mate, her child or her godchildren like that.

As if reading her mind from afar, Elwood's voice rose into the air, summoning her. Wildfire promptly finished her drink and loped toward the Beta pair's den. Her step hastened when she realized he might be calling her to tell her Finley had finally come home. But when she came around the bend and saw him standing outside the den, alone, her heart sank even further than before. She drew up beside him, offering a nudge, her amber eyes sad, worried and curious.