Redtail Rise bridal ballad

She didn’t seem upset. Even with time, she agreed that searching had been right. His heart lifted some, though it still thudded anxiously. He had looked for her, but he hadn’t found her.

He met her embrace, but looked down, ears falling back with the memory of it all. It was hard to recall, all jumbled up in panic and desperation. I know he replied softly, speaking of the bear. I found it, but I… I couldn’t fight it. I looked, but you weren’t there. I looked as much as I could. Shame. If he had risked the bear he might have found her. Might have seen this strange place himself. Instead he had run, scouring the surrounding ateas instead. Praying she’d somehow managed to escape and hide her trail.

I wanted to kill it. He didn’t know why he admitted this as if it were a crime. She would understand. But it was a betrayal of himself, and the wolf he’d sought to be. He might have thrown himself into it too, had he not wished to find her more.