Broken Antler Fen Nice Dream

Having returned to the rendezvous site where she could attend her daughter, Ibis tried to keep herself level-headed and high-spirited whenever Lilitu's attention was upon her; it was difficult, and in seeing that difficulty Akavir drew their daughter away for some private time together. Once they had dispersed Ibis set about cleaning up the den. In her mind she was merely tidying the space in preparation for Arielle's return.

It was during this cleansing of the burrow that Wraen approached from further afield. Ibis was busy extending the hollow with cautious scrapes of her claws, presuming that when Arielle returned she would be a little bigger, and maybe want her own space. Whether it was a mother's hope or her denial which fueled her actions, Ibis was hard at work.

She popped her head out of the den when the sound of crunching snow piqued her interest. Digging was hard, the ground was cold and solid, and she was glad for a break — but also a little disoriented from her private grief.

Thinking it was her husband returning with Lilitu (and briefly wondering if he would come with Arielle too, having found her hiding somewhere in the fen they had not checked yet) Ibis was briefly crestfallen when she recognized Wraen instead.