Hushed Willows Every day I've got a smile where my frown goes

As the initial shock and grief of the situation wore off, Reverie found herself with a thousand questions. This was certainly Jakoul's daughter, of that there could be no doubt. In nearly every way she mirrored the woman Reverie had once thought of as a friend, a kindred soul in the suffering they'd endured at the changing whims of Swiftcurrent Creek's men. But how had this happened to her, and how had she gotten here? She knew that Jakoul had disappeared, had abandoned her daughter — but what about Akavir?

But no answers were forthcoming, and she had already decided that she would not pry just yet. Not until the girl was settled.

Reverie found it difficult to look at her for very long. Each time she did, she could only see Mae as she'd been the first time she saw her. She would never forget that. Mae was the very first child she'd ever seen brought into the world, and she had been so impossibly small and fragile and beautiful. She'd been troublesome then, too; holding her breath, trying stubbornly to die as much as she was now! Reverie nearly brought herself back to tears with these thoughts, until finally she pushed them away.

She turned to check on the girl and found her awake. Reverie went to her silently, reaching out to touch Mae's paw with one of her own. Jakoul's daughter. Akavir's daughter. But where were they now?

I'm sorry, Mae, She said quietly after a time. She wasn't sure what else to say.