Dawnlark Plains And kiss her lips and take her hands

She hoped, even if it left Spring bereft of followers, that Casmir would agree to come to the mountains with her. Saena's children were as much his as her own. He had lifted them when their legs grew tired, aided them in their great crossing of the wilds, and raised them when she was unable to be there to do it herself. Saena couldn't imagine lying in wait for the day her daughters were freed of Reek's manipulation without Casmir at her side. She couldn't imagine welcoming Indra or Laurel home without him there as well. He would be her second, her right hand, and he would be there to bring their girls back under their safety once more.

For a fleeting second, Saena thought it might be true. There was a resolute spark in the man's eyes, and she dared to be hopeful, but it just as quickly faded. Her face fell. Casmir couldn't leave the creek. His life was there, even if the girls and Saena were not. As surely as Saena couldn't return to the creek and attempt to resume a life that fell short of what she'd worked so hard for so long for, Casmir could not give up the life he'd built to follow her. Not again. Though he would never be unwelcome, at least by her, should that ever change.

"And I, you," she returned, though her tone was solemn. She wished she could have it all, but it simply wasn't possible. It never had been. When Saena became a leader, she had to lose the plateau. When she became a mother, she had to lose her mate, and then her home. When she finally became settled and content with a life elsewhere, she had to lose her memories. There had never been an instance in her life that she could recall where she simply gained something. Saena's life was one big give and take, and this was no different. To remain here, and leave the creek behind, and rebuild, she had to lose Casmir.

"I understand," she breathed at last. There was nothing left to be said about that. But Saena wasn't done. "Casmir," she voiced, a little louder and stronger, "the creek is yours. It belongs with my family. With you." She scrunched her brows, fighting back tears, both because he would be leaving and because it would hurt Spring. But Saena didn't care about that. She cared about her family, and what was owed them, through her sweat and blood and tears. She hadn't worked so hard for someone else's glory, even if it was Spring, a dear friend. Saena had not built the creek for her. "Reclaim it."