Hushed Willows chains

@Cortez  @Sunny

Grezig had failed at many things: remaining active within Rusalka; being a good mother for her children; overcoming her depression. And the inner chaos of the pack had not helped her come out of her funk. Xizur had returned from his mysterious disappearance, and then disappeared again a short time later. Grezig ached in her heart for him, but could not muster the energy to search for him a second time. Tizir seemed unaware of the goings on and spent longer and longer each day near the sea as the weather warmed. Having children, Grezig thought, had been a mistake. Even Vaati had disappeared. Perhaps it was time for her to disappear now.

She thought of taking Tizir with her, but the idea of dragging her obliviously happy daughter away from the sea caused her pain. Tizir would not understand and would think only that her mother was punishing her in some way. So, she decided to leave her daughter with Rusalka and travel away from the sea alone. Grezig howled one evening to let the pack know that she was leaving, too tired to face them upfront. She did not care how they reacted. She wanted only to leave.

She followed a nearby river farther inland and diverted at some point. It took a few days’ travel. She found the scent of another pack much sooner than she had expected and followed it to its one entrance. She stood at the border and was lost in hesitation for some time. It seemed that everywhere Grezig went, something always went wrong. Blacktail Deer Plateau had ended in disaster for her and Kavik and Liri (although they seemed like distant dream-like memories now). The wolves of Rusalka were constantly fighting for leadership and crumbling under the strain. Would she bring calamity to this pack, as well? Would it be better to wander alone forever?

Eventually, Grezig seemed to come back into her body, which felt heavy and sluggish as if she were dragging chains across her shoulders and back and around her ankles. She released a low, hesitant howl, still unsure of what she wanted. She sat and waited and seemed, with every moment, to sink further into herself until the world was a small pinprick of light surrounded by darkness.