Hushed Willows We crumble and fall, but we don’t break

Princesses. She thought then of her own childhood, and how she had never once dreamed of being a princess. It sounded like such a restricted life, so full of expectations. Reverie had always hated expectations. But this place, this pack — it was her own. There was no need to live by any rules but the ones she made.

Maybe it could still be here. What do you think about traveling? Her eyes were alight with a hopeful curiosity as they found Reina again. In The Gilded Sea we were nomads. We never stayed anywhere longer than a few days. I don't think it would work the same way here, but... maybe during spring and summer, when my daughters are old enough. And maybe - maybe that way, we could come back here. When summer ends.

They wouldn't be abandoning Hearthwood. Not forever. It was difficult to imagine ever feeling at peace in this place, but maybe the future would be different. Summer's end was still far in the future; it hadn't even begun yet.