Hushed Willows this day aria

For @Ulysses!

After settling in at the Emberwood, Easy had ranged out once more to visit the Willows where the family had last been whole -- as whole as they could make it, at least. She gave a loud, searching howl as she moved about the outskirts, disturbed by some of the destruction the shaking had wraught on the once-sanctuary.

Even without her call going unanswered by familiar voices, Easy understood that she would not find Sunny, Dawn, Minnow, or Steph in this mess. All but the most grey and fading traces of their scents had been washed away, such that Easy was half-certain she was only catching a hopeful memory rather than a scent. Still, she went about the place leaving her own mark, so that her hale and recent scent would tell any visitors that she was alive and in the area; she would continue to do this every few weeks for as long as she stayed at the Emberwood. With any hope, her family would soon find her there.

Hours passed in this way. Eventually, Easy sat down in the fading afternoon and tilted her head back to give one last, hopeful howl.