Blackfeather Woods and when the band plays "hail to the chief"

Maegi was adrift on poppies, without feeling, without body. She floated through the trees, eyes a little glazed over. Everything was muted; all the edges were softened. Almost blurry, but not quite. More like looking at something under the water, where shape was just slightly distorted.

Distorted so that the dark form on the path ahead didn't immediately register as familiar, and she bristled at coming upon a shadow so suddenly. Then she blinked, and he came into focus as Nightstar, which put her at ease. She couldn't remember if she'd ever met Moonshadow's brother; if she had, it had been very brief, uneventful, and quite some time ago.

Hello, Maegi said, strolling toward him with a little more purpose in her step. She nodded toward the coyote, mouth twitching infinitesimally in wry satisfaction. You found something. Better luck than me, these days.