Fox's Glade des pas sur la neige

she had never felt more dead inside than she did now.

for seasons, Tahani had lived for her family. family was her highest priority. and now, she was separated from them all, flung into the wilds alone, helpless. Taki, Sia, Shiv. . .Currituck, gods. . . she looked, she had looked, she continued to look and would until she died.

but the body only had so much energy for one day, and she had expended it this day. she entered the glade and half-collapsed, a pale shell of herself in the shadows. her breaths came quick and shallow, her muscles quivering. she had gone and gone, scenting and calling. to no avail. they were gone.

this was the worst kind of torture; this was hell on earth. she wondered what she had done to deserve this kind of pain, inside and out.

her deep-set eyes stared blankly ahead, focusing idly on a dead leaf here, a broken twig there.

the snow had stopped, but the ice 'round her heart remained.