Silver Moraine all the world you roam turns you into stone

i couldn't resist

the plains had cooled, but the ghosts that roamed the charred hills kept aditya at bay. he could swear he heard voices in the wreckage, unsure of whether he imagined them or if it truly was hallowed, haunted ground. nevertheless, he was too attuned to the spiritual to dare disturb that kind of energy, so he kept to the moraine in the early morning, wandering the rocks with restless paws.

the smell of blood lingered close by, heavy in the air, and he wondered if there was a free meal to take back to the maplewood, at least enough to feed the children. the hope died in his chest as he saw the girl, lying near motionless, the only sign of life the barest rise and fall of her ribs.

adi let out a small cry and rushed toward her, sinking down to his belly by her side. "myrren," he pleaded in a ragged whisper, nudging her cheek with his nose. she was quite badly injured; he presumed the dead coyotes nearby were her vanquished foes. they clearly hadn't let her off easy. "hey, myrren, stay with me--it's aditya, i'm here."

he'd have to drag her back to the maplewood. how on earth would he do that with any sort of finesse? perhaps he should call for help before it was too late, and the bleeding girl expired beside him.