Noctisardor Bypass entlaufen

For once, Mahler's selfishness included her.

For once, he placed his family above his duty.

There was some measure of regret in Wylla for what it had taken to get to this point. She didn't like abandoning those kids to Ursus, no matter what anyone might think. But Mahler spoke truly: they had fought and they had lost, but were lucky enough to come out alive. If they fought again, there was no guarantee they would not die for it, and Wylla could not bear losing Mahler now, not like that. Not for someone who had brought conflict to his paradise and torn it from him.

Still she blamed Laurel for everything. Her fury that Sequoia had not shown her face in the fight was set aside. There would have been no fight if not for whatever Laurel had done. For once, Wylla saw that it was not Mahler who was the selfish one, but those around him who influenced his decisions.

She hoped those children would be okay, but had the uncharitable thought that perhaps they were better off. Ursus would not have made the effort to drag them away if they meant to kill them. Likely, Laurel could get them out if she traded her life for theirs. It was probably the only way. If she would not do that then there was no helping it.

Wylla had ever been dedicated to family and that was no different now. Laurel, her children, Sequoia, they all meant nothing to her. What she cared about was Mahler, Thade, Phaedra, the children she carried now. She would miss Druid... but maybe they would meet again someday. With a quiet sigh and a drawn look as she spotted the blood in the snow, Wylla lifted her muzzle and called for their ethereal daughter. She would hear and follow in her own time, as had been her way the last year or so.

This is the right thing, she said quietly, hastening after to follow at his flank. There was no question; Wylla went where he went.