Chimera Fields Straight into the bar

finally, 1k :'P tags 4 reference 

The past few days had felt long, each second dripping by slowly. Huā felt she was suspended in that hourglass as the sand pooled around her, and she struggled to claw her way out of that sort of slow death. She hated being alone with time- it left her alone with her thoughts, too. Who remained on Moonspear's slopes was a mystery for now. She wanted to know, and yet was afraid to explore, to find out for herself. If there was something horrible to know... she didn't want to have to be the one to uncover it. Her trail leaned to Neverwinter instead... and though it was far from Moonspear, she felt herself getting sick with worry. It was hard to control paranoia once it struck. It enveloped her thoughts entirely, and Huā found her dark paws carrying her more hurriedly, as if by rushing she might be able to reverse time, and save Mal from whatever hypothetical disaster she had invented in her head. After all, she had never seen something that burned so brightly in the sky. The island had only been a neighbor to the rushing beam of light, and then it dissapeared into the mainland, but who knew how far the impact could travel, or what pathways it followed? All she knew was what @Kukutux had told her- the impact, at Moonspear. Wolves missing. Huā tried not to think about @Hydra . She had to be out there- she was one of the strongest women the empress knew; she could not imagine her being struck down in her good health and young age. 

She focused her energy of thought on Mal instead, and when she caught sight of him, she seemed to stumble in her step. He looked different. She thought of his bright smile and lively energy. He was like a shell now- messy fur, dull eyes. Less healthy. It was like he had aged a year in the time she hadn't seen him. She scampered, and then broke into a run, towards him, desperate. With her kids away visiting their aunt, he was the one steady ground she had in her life now besides Aiolos. Even her idol was missing from the mountain, and Huā hung onto her remaining security by a thread. Mal was that thread, and he looked very worn out. She paused before she reached him completely- she didn't feel right embracing him with an affectionate tackle in this state. Instead she delicately reached out, planting a confident kiss on his cheek before pulling away, and looking sadly into his eyes. You look... She began, and trailed into silence. He had to know how he looked, didn't he? She didn't want to say bad, or even different- they were true, but it wouldn't help to point out the obvious, nor kick him while he was down. Tell me... anything. She offered finally. Huā nudged him gently with her muzzle. It was pointless to ask what was wrong- there was so much on that list already, though somehow she knew there must be more.