Blackfeather Woods But now here we are

oh jeez sorry i'm just getting to this now

Kove's eyes landed on her, and to her incredible relief, there was no audible anger in his voice, only concern. She nodded infinitesimally, looking around the circle of wolves. "Yes, we're. . .we're all right." Her voice was small and choked. Now was not the time to explain Cicero taking them away; that could be saved for later, in private.

Her stomach sank as Kove explained Vaati's absence, though the sadness came with a note of lightness that confused her, momentarily. Then again, she had feared for her pack, when that terrible man had challenged Vaati in the Bypass. She had thought for a while that they would fare better under Kove's leadership. Now that time had come, and though she mourned for the loss of yet another brother, a small glimmer of hope rose in her chest for the first time in days. They would be all right.

She took halting steps forward, sitting close to both Kove and Nyx. She was satisfied to not see Iliksis or Ithrik among the group; finally, their scourge had been eradicated from the forest. She never had crossed paths with either of them, but she knew that darkness resided within them, a darkness that went against the laws of Mephala and Sithis. She would not miss them.