Moonsong Glacier mistmantle

It was lonely on the glacier. Dutch could not bring himself to settle back in just yet. He wasn't at all sure of the pack's future, and the lives of the individuals left behind were constantly on his mind. A secret hope had taken harbor beneath his breast; he dared not acknowledge it while there was so much else to be done.

A familiar voice called out a familiar name. The panther's ears slicked back for a moment, but he pulled himself away from his current task and went to meet the girl.

"Peace, bachchee," he called out to her when he had her in his sight. He closed the distance between them at an uneven lope, hoping to quiet her calls before they could bring more misfortune down upon them. He did not believe it was wrong to speak the names of the dead, and he was sure that Ariadne still lived either way — but he did not feel they needed her spirit upon the mountain at this time.

His brows were drawn in sympathy, even though he did not know what kind of relationship the girls had had with one another. Her frantic tone said quite enough.

"She is not here," he said.