Hushed Willows I had only just found you, why have you left me?

“Dottie.” He shook his sister to rouse, having noticed that Reina had not returned. It was already well into the night, later than when she promised she would be back. Something about going for a walk to clear her head, though he hadn’t been listening nearly as well as he should have. Silently berating himself, he shook his sister, again, this time with more force.

“Dottie! Will you get up—Reina didn’t come back.” The mouse of a girl swatted at him, her face pinched in annoyance. “Seriously, get up. She isn’t here. We need to go.” She seemed to have heard the urgency in his voice for she finally cracked her eyes open, yawning as she stood. She would stumble after him, tears in her eyes, following his lead on their search for their caregiver.

Caregiver turned Mother, if he were to be honest. The siblings had been young when they were separated from Opal; the time spent on their own had been longer than the length of time knowing her as their mother. Since the time they were found outside of Moonspear, Reina had been there for them, caring for their needs, and making sure that they thrived. She had loved them as a mother should. He would tell her how he felt when they found her.

If they found her.

Before leaving the den, he had sniffed the fox pelt gifted to her by Reverie, something she frequently wore and would certainly carry her scent the strongest. He lifted his nose to the subtle breeze, not a hint of her scent to indicate a possible direction. With a huff, he dropped his nose to the ground, scenting hard and long, deciphering between the different scents of those that have recently come and gone in the surrounding area of their den.

The boy kept his head down, nose to the ground as he perused the area more. There! He found her scent, its trail leading north. Dottie had dutifully followed him, her own nose wrinkling as she scented it, too. He followed her gaze to their borders, his eyebrows wrinkling in confusion.

“Reina doesn’t go to the borders, so why is her scent leading that way?” It didn’t make any sense, but Reina had been off lately. 

“Let’s go, Dot. Maybe she’s just looking for herbs.” It wouldn’t be out of character for her, she needed to keep her stash as fresh as possible after all. 
Both yearlings made their way to the edge of the pack borders as they followed her scent. It stopped in a disturbed area of the Marsh, the earth harboring the stale scents of blood, Reina, and another that was unfamiliar. The two stared wide-eyed at each other. Something happened here, and with the presence of blood, it wasn’t good.

They needed the others. Carnelian’s voice rose in a mournfully urgent call for @Reverie, @Everett, @Tybault, @Dusty Rose, @Abel, @Astraeus; whoever was close enough to answer. It was late at night, he knew it was possible that no one would answer while sleep claimed them, but he had to try. While they waited, both children continued to search the area.

They would only find that her scent stopped in the Marsh, seeds of Poppy scattered a short trail to the East, deep gouges in the mud would indicate that something was dragged in that direction. The scent of blood followed it, but the smells of the Marsh were strong and pungent, the trail fading the further they went. They paced, calling her name, sobbing openly as the feeling of loss settled in their bones.