The Heartwood don’t look down, don’t be afraid to fall

timelines? idk her

Riley had limped down the mountainside, but to the surprise of no one, did not go home.

Esme.

He would find her. He would not forget her like she instructed; if anything, she became more and more a fixation in the yearling's mind.

A thud pulled Riley from his daydreaming. The yearling hobbled to a halt and thrust his nose into the air, drawing any scent he could through his slim muzzle. Pinebark and the scent of a male reached him -- casting his gaze about, Riley saw the tree-assailant -- a wolf nearly his age with a missing leg.

There were a million ways that Riley could have greeted this agitated creature -- naturally, he went for the worst. "What happened to your leg?"