Two Rivers Isle Chopping down with hatchets

Laika's offer was met with a gentle shake of the lead female's head, though she quickly added, "we can cover more ground if we split up," so as to dissuade any notion that she didn't want the company. Company would be grand, but finding food would be grander, and it was on that task that Saena's mind remained. How could it not? Her stomach was so empty it felt like it was turning itself inside out, and the fear that her children might be feeling the same thing was never far from her thoughts. She wouldn't wish a hunger like that on anyone, least of all innocent cubs who knew no better.

"I intend to loop around the northern end of these lands, at least," and perhaps further if there was nothing to be found. "You could try striking through the very heart of them, see if the inner territories have anything worthwhile." Saena rather doubted it, as she doubted her own expedition, but she would never admit that aloud. Her confidence couldn't be allowed to waver, even if all she really wanted to do was lie down and sob.

"Maybe we'll meet up on the other side of the valley," she suggested, though in no way was it spoken as a promise. Their timing could be off, or one of them could return home before ever reaching there, but it was nonetheless a comforting thought. Unbeknownst to either of them, Saena would not meet up with Laika on the far side of the hinterlands, but would climb higher in search of food only to fall and wipe clean her whole existence.