Nova Peak If you must work, work to leave some part of you on this earth

Set some time after this, prior to Wylla officially departing. Permission was granted for assumptions re: Phaedra's decision.

Fresh wounds slashed through Wylla's heart as she parted ways with her daughter. She couldn't hold it against Phaedra that she wanted to stay here with her father where the world was familiar; despite all that Mahler had done to Phaedra, they had always been much closer in a way. Wylla hadn't reached out when her daughter withdrew, and maybe that was her biggest mistake. Either way, she would be leaving one child behind.

So she sought the other one, following urgently along his freshest scent trail and avidly avoiding anyone else. Part of her was tempted to tell @Thade that he must come with her, so that she could have some tiny part of the family she'd made, instead of always giving and giving and getting nothing in return for it. But she knew she could not force him. It wasn't fair to him. Moreover, it wasn't fair to Mahler as their father, not that she was at all concerned with his feelings at the moment.

It was taking every ounce of her willpower to keep up a steady face and a brisk walk when all she wanted to do was come undone, and she had no room in her head for any other thought.