Moonspear by a route obscure and lonely

Lyra stared at the dark boy, feeling a growing sense of worry and confusion growing in the pit of her stomach. She could not imagine the pain that this stranger had gone through, but to the young girl, it was easy to liken his situation to her own. After all - she'd had wolves leave her. And Dashie...

"When I was realy small, I got my Dashie got eaten by a mountain lion," she whispered, tears sparkling in her eyes. "D'ya... Do ya think I could be cursed? 'Cause Dashie died, and then Cosantine and Eelee left, too. Do you think more of my family will leave?"

The darkling was gripped with an unholy terror at the thought. What if it was one of her mirror twins to leave, next? Or her Mamakaze, or the Great White? Lyra turned her terrified gaze to the older boy, begging for him to correct her.