Cerulean Cape rené and georgette magritte with their dog after the war

In the days following their nomi's departure, Wildfire kept her children close. She'd never had to keep a close eye on Bat, yet she did so now, fearing the Goufa would make another attempt to chase after their wayward comrades. But when Bat showed absolutely no more signs of leaving, the former Bandrona eventually let down her guard. She even left her most lackadaisical child to her own devices to pay a visit to @Blixen. Although the circumstances were extremely trying for her, the mother was immensely proud of her eldest daughter's ascension and wanted to see if there was anything she could do to help the new commander.

Nearly the instant Wildfire disappeared to search for Blixen near the eastern borders, Bat took flight in the opposite direction. She did not slow, much less stop, when she crossed the invisible boundary line. Her legs kept pumping for hours without stopping, unfamiliar landscapes sliding by, unseen, on either side. She hugged the coastline, hoping Thuringwethil and the soldiers had followed it too. They'd had several days' head start but Bat was just young enough to hope she could somehow catch up to them, if she only ran fast enough.

But Bat's energy sapped, much earlier than it might've for a wolf her age, due to her lack of conditioning. By the time her toes touched the sands of the cape, her tongue was lolling almost completely from her muzzle, foam clotting at the corners of her mouth. Her slim chest heaved with her breaths before the Goufa's quaking legs gave out and she sank to the ground.

It took nearly ten minutes to catch her breath. As the panting subsided, Bat grew more aware of her surroundings. She looked around without rising, studying the stony formation behind her, the grasslands to either side and, of course, the glittering ocean front and center. She was more or less lost, not to mention alone, but she had been right to stick close to the seaside; the weary pup drew solace from its familiarity as she continued to rest.