Phoenix Maplewood Remember When

The truth was, Nanook was ready to leave. Not the Maplewood yet, just somewhere other than here, where she could lash the flurry inside without risking her sister. But Desna wouldn't let her and she stopped Nanook again, this time with words. Her heart twisted in frustration, but Nanook walled it up behind her growing fortress and turned to Desna with a closed face.

Behind her wall was a different story. She wanted to go back to the way things had been. A world where she didn't have to hide from her sister, or fear she'd be punished by having someone else taken from her for a wrong she hadn't realized she'd done. But that was not the world she faced, and it was best for them both if she kept her distance until she could fix her mistakes, whatever they had been. "I'm staying here, don't worry," she tried to speak as controlled as she could, but inner tension continued to strain to her voice. "I just don't wanna hunt right now, or look for Sesi." She just wanted to get away, and the thought of running with her sister while ice churned inside made her throat tighten with anxiety for all that could happen.