Blackfeather Woods home, home again

Caught up as she was in her happiness, it took Maegi a couple of moments to notice the way Mou's eyes scanned the wood, as if looking for someone—and not a good someone, either. The joy slowly ebbed from her face, replaced with a wary expression that could have been made of stone for how still and blank it was.

What is it? she asked in a hushed tone. Blue shuffled uneasily on his branch, put off by the change in volume. Mou, what is it? What's wrong?

She knew her friend too well to ignore the sudden shift in emotion. It sent icy chills down her spine, as she waited with bated breath for what he had to tell her.