Phantom Hollow A blizzard night

The lake drew him in. It was where he had come to terms with his brother on their loves gained and lost, where he had first shed tears in Teekon, or said her name aloud. He found himself making frequent pilgrimages there--trying to bring back something of value to his brother's pack, every time, but frequent enough to draw concern.

He followed the river back, always. Walked along its banks and sometimes, in his darkest moments, fantasized about throwing himself into the rapids. Stopped short when he thought of Easy and her bright, young eyes, or Dawn and Sunny, the image of their father. His family. A family he thought he'd lost forever, only to find them once more by fate.

Shale entered the woods as the wind began to pick up and, after a few minutes of walking, found himself not alone in the dark place. It was the healer, Pema, who was hunkered down here, presumably riding out the coming storm in this forest rather than risking the elements returning to the plateau.

With a low chuff, he trotted her way, wagging his tail as he came to a stop a few paces in front of her. "Setting up camp for the night?" he asked lightly, smiling.