Blackfeather Woods searching every room, I am not free

She lunged, the madwoman did, but Nephele had been backing up from the moment she’d spun. In her entire life, it was moments like this where she knew it was either run or die.

So she chose run.

She didn’t say anything else, tucked her tail, and bolted like a coward. Because she was one, there was no shame in it for her. Staying alive was more important than personal pride, and besides. She’d never had much in the way of pride for herself. She’d leave the madwoman to her gibberings, leave the woods to their hauntings, leave everything and everyone she passed in her dust.

Nephele wouldn’t stop running until she was back on the Mesa. And even when she was there, she’d run until she found somewhere safe, high up, and surrounded on all sides to hide.

No more wanderings for her, at least not into the woods.