Moonspear Braveheart

She felt many things at present, though chief among them—somehow even worse than the shock and sadness—was the absolute disorientation of being abruptly thrown out of the only home she had ever known. After howling a final goodbye to all within earshot, she loped north and took shelter in Bramblepoint. She lingered near the woods' edge, staring at her former home, trying to catch her breath and gather her bearings. Every time she thought the words, I'm no longer a member of Redhawk Caldera, the knowledge stabbed through her chest like a knife.

Wildfire supposed there was only one place to go at this point. She was not suited to the life of a loner, even for one day, so she finally turned away from the distant smokestack and began to gallop northwest through the forest. She emerged and saw Moonspear jutting into the sky ahead of her. It was a literal beacon of hope on what was perhaps the most discombobulated day of her life. Trying to focus on the future rather than the past she was leaving behind, she slowly trotted toward her (hopefully) new home.

It was tempting to call for Floki and throw herself into her "boyfriend's" arms, telling him all about her awful day and burying her head in his shoulder. But Wildfire stiffened that upper lip of hers as she approached the borderlands. Maybe she wouldn't even tell Floki or Charon or anyone about the circumstances leading to her departure, unless they asked. She didn't see why they would, though. As far as they would know, she had simply made her choice (and not had it made for her).

And she would own that decision now. The young she-wolf drew in an admittedly shaky breath and fought the sudden and powerful urge to weep. Once the moment passed and she felt steady again, she drew in another breath, then tipped her smudged snout toward the dismal gray sky and howled for Charon, Floki or Ame. Wildfire then pursed her lips and slumped onto her haunches. She should have felt excited and optimistic about this new adventure but as she waited, a shroud of melancholy descended upon her.