Hushed Willows they escaped the weight of darkness

She had never really given up hope for him. Her hope had faded away from the forefront of her mind. It had darkened to points where it seemed as though it would shortly flicker out and all would fade to black. But still, it remained within her, unseen, unnoticed, and without any need to be tended. It had always been this way with the two of them ever since they had met. Where he went, Harlyn followed. And where she went, Mordecai followed as well. Whatever circumstances in their lives had separated them, one had always come to find the other in the end. It would be that way in this too, so Harlyn had believed without needing to actively will herself to.

That did not, however, mean that when his call sounded over the Keep, Harlyn's heart didn't implode upon itself with relief. Tears came almost instantly to her eyes as emotion broke over her typically composed face. "Mordecai..." she said softly to herself as she stood, stunned. Her surprise kept her immobile for only a few moments before a broad smile twisted across her face and she set off towards the borders to welcome her mate back home.

Two steps were all she took before she heard the crash. It was a somewhat distant sound, but it sounded loud enough to give her pause. Something about it made the hair along her spine prickle with unease. Harlyn looked back over her shoulder with ears perked and dread pooling inside her, as though the gods themselves were whispering threats into her ears. The pull was too strong to ignore, and soon she was running in the opposite direction, away from the borders and Mordecai, towards whatever terrible thing she knew her eyes would soon rest upon.

Harlyn had never expected to see Larkspur, but there she was, crumpled and broke at the base of the foothills that lined the edge of the Keep. No words could describe the sound of shock, horror and dismay that erupted from her throat as she tore towards her daughter. She rushed towards her, stopping just short of trampling her. Blood had pooled on the ground beneath her, soaking through her pale blonde fur. She looked like a doll that had been tossed carelessly down the stairs and landed in a tangle of legs.

Harlyn couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. All she could do was toss her head back and send a desperate howl renting through the air, summoning anyone, everyone to her.