Lost Creek Hollow ishi comes home

All good! <3

The snow-white youth wasn't able to listen properly, for the torture of what he'd been through was still fresh inside him, grappling at his mind, seizing his heart, freezing his soul and — in the form of little tremors of weakness — reminding his small body what had happened to it. But as long as he remained here at @Shikoba's side, pressed lightly against her as though he belonged to her, he felt safe. Her scarred fur gave off a warmth that had alluded him so terribly, and whatever happened he would remain with her. He didn't speak, having little or no voice at all, but dimly recognised what was happening. A flee to the hills, a flee from the cougar. A disappearance into the great beyond — which was truly the boy's favourite place. His upbringing had been semi-nomadic, and as such he'd learnt to associate home with people, not with places. His instinct was to look to Spring, twitching and desperate to go with her to Phoenix Maplewood, but he remained where he sat, not strong enough to move, not moved enough to think.