Blackfeather Woods a distant ship smoke on the horizon

We have no home, she shot back, and immediately regretted the sharpness of her tongue. Still, the retort burned in her chest. It was true, anyway. . .no use sugarcoating it. The hollow was no more, burned to a crisp. Whatever home they had there had been destroyed.

The only place left was the island. She could not stand this place of ghosts for another moment.

I'm sorry, Maegi murmured, trying to catch his eye whether or not he took offense to her comment. No, it's not our home. But it once was. And it could be again. 

Didn't he want that? A fresh start? She rose slowly to her paws, feeling the earth slide beneath them as she did so. Everything moved slowly, even the beating of her heart. Everything was caught in a single moment. A moment was all they had.

Nothing else was guaranteed. She'd learned that the hard way.