Nova Peak If I'm to have regrets, let them be for deeds and actions.

She settled near the edge of a rocky slope, not close enough to see the evergreens down below. Ciri, despite her usually fearless nature, had been taught from the days of her first steps to respect their ruthless spire. This mountain, she was sure, was no different, and the little blackbird was unprepared to test it.

Her response to the sound of approaching paws was a simple backward cant of a raven lobe, as she expected that perhaps her sister had followed. Ciri wished Elke away and did not bother to look over a dark shoulder to see her, hopeful that her lack of acknowledgement would be a clear indication that she had no need of her company.

When it became apparent that the noise did not belong to her littermate's gait but instead that of an adult, Ciri swung her head to peer through the trees with wild yellow eyes. She spotted her mother's familiar tawny hide and slackened, released the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, and turned her face away once more.

"Yeah," she answered simply, gaze cast over the valley before so she could examine the swirl of warm shades surrounding the sun as it dipped below the distant horizon. Orange and pink melted into lavender, which faded gently to darkening blue. Soon, they would be enveloped in darkness.