Wheeling Gull Isle Don't lose hope

She didn't know what compelled her to follow Venninne that day (she had taken to the name Moorhen had called the mother from the Valley). She had become a sort of pale shadow to the woman, when not talking with other wolves. Maegi loved to watch her patrol the borders. It reminded her of Vaati's rounds, when she was younger. Always vigilant, always watchful.

The girl heard the call and knew Venninne would be first to answer--she usually was, and the voice came from nearby. Quietly, Maegi stalked behind her, not necessarily concealing her presence but not making any moves to announce it, either. At any rate, she was sure the guardian knew she was there, anyway.

There were two wolves in the close distance, one white and one black. Her heart thumped suddenly in her chest as imagination took over, and they morphed into Kove and Nyx. They were here--they had found her, they had come to take her home! She could barely contain her joy as she began to barrel forward, but before she could surge past Venninne, she took a second look--and came to a screeching halt, sand flying.

Not Kove. Much smaller, a pale woman. Her eyes shifted over, and--

"Step away from the child now."

Pit-pat, pit-pat. The sound of blood on stone. The burning of a wound newly given. The feeling of wobbling near the edge of a cliff, the black yawning Void growing larger, filling the vision. . .

"Wake up. Prisoners don't die unless we allow them to."

The cool air of Shadow Mountain whistled past her face as she stared at Moonshadow, who she'd last seen grappling with--

"Skullchaser," she gasped, throat constricted with fear. She took a couple of hobbling steps backward, almost tumbling over herself in her haste to retreat. She huddled near Venninne for a brief moment, peering at the dark woman.

Moonshadow. Blackfeather's pungent aroma clung to her pelt, but all she saw was Skullchaser. His eyes, glittering inches from hers. His teeth, coated in her blood. That. . .smile--that hadn't reached his gaze.

There was Moonshadow--but all she saw was Skullchaser.

And just as she had when she last caught sight of the man, Maegi turned tail and ran the other way, heading for the tree line.

.......................................................................................................................................................

"careful with that axe, eugene."