Sleepy Fox Hollow Slippin' through dreamland like a tourist

for @Taikon
Set for late evening

She had grown tried of remaining within the borders of Sagtannet. Never in her life had she been so restricted, aside from when she had young pups last spring, and it was starting to wear on her nerves. She was restless and tired of feeling weak and like a burden; for someone who found the most comfort in control, being at the mercy of an invisible monster with no real cure other than rest and time was more than difficult. Eating still remained a battle for her, which meant the weight did not come back as quickly as she liked; it was something she might have brought to Mahler's attention had he not been so rightfully preoccupied with his own demons. So instead she had done as she always did: muddle through on her own. She had tried to keep her struggles from her son even, but she wasn't sure she always did a good job. She was afraid he was too much like her and saw what was under the surface of her loved ones masks regardless of how well worn they were. 

When she could finally no longer take being within the borders of her temporary pack's claim one second longer, she found herself wandering far from the spire, down into the wretched hollow that she hated so much. Why did she always end up back in the place full of ghosts and toxic memories? Just walking across the abandoned territory brought her back to those miserable days before she had made the choice to leave. But even then, sickness had grabbed her by the throat and yanked her back—back to the hollow and then back to Mahler and all the things she had tried so hard to forget. 

She drew in a heavy sigh and wandered slowly across the darkened valley; she still knew it well, and she walked the familiar path to the lake, stopping at the water's edge. She paused only briefly before taking a few steps in and taking a seat in the shallow water. Her fiery gaze drifted out over the ripples and followed them until they disappeared somewhere beyond her field of vision. It was quiet and might have been peaceful to someone who wasn't haunted by this place.