Heron Lake Plateau Hard time forgiving Even harder forgetting

She was in good spirits when she returned to the plateau, following the day's adventure with Cinder. But as soon as she came home and stumbled across her mother's and sister's scents, her smile faltered, then dropped away completely. Bat began to slink off to find Tegan, then caught herself. She was avoiding Wildfire and Kiwi, she realized, and now she frowned.

Slowly, she turned and instead began looking for them. It made her heart flutter and her stomach clench, yet Bat told herself it was a good thing they were here. Sure, it flew in the face of everything she'd done to establish herself here, start her life away from all things Drageda. But did it matter? Nobody cared what name she used and it didn't even seem like Wildfire was mad about the lies or even running away. She just seemed glad to be together again.

But, she thought to herself as she bustled in the direction of the lake, still... Seeing them made all her feelings about nomi's departure resurface, among other things. Where was nomi anyhow? And Silkie? And Tux? And why the hell had they left Drageda? Bat would have to ask Wildfire, Kiwi or Sequoia... and here was her chance, she saw, as she crossed paths with her sister.

"Hey, Kiwi," Bat opened, falling silent when she saw the look in Kiwi's eye.