Blacktail Deer Plateau i told you i didn't want to go to this dinner

Finding only Blueberry snuggled close in their den had been a shock, but at least Vesper's scent was fresh enough to follow, and he trusted that she would not go far without good reason. Her last foray away from the family had earned a scolding that Mou hoped would have taught her better.

She came bursting back towards Mou soon enough, not even seeing him as she bee-lined for where Maegi waited. Mou gave a cursory look around as best he could before tagging after her, arriving to see the look upon his wife's face, the announcement by Vesper slicing a piece off of the father's weak heart.

Maegi called for Phox; Mou couldn't think of what to do, let alone remember his brother in that moment. Their curse had taken more children from them, and as much as it burned him, Mou knew it to be inevitable.