Tormented Tarns Living like life's going out of style

No matter how hard she tried, everyone seemed to like Dahlia better. It was no secret that she was Mama's favorite — and now Dusty Rose's, too, and just who did that leave for Foxglove?

It's just you 'n me, she'd told @Petal. Her sister was the only one she'd told before she left. Not forever, not like Blossom. Fox just wanted to find something — for herself. And maybe for Petal, too, if she decided to follow.

But most of all she wanted to get away. She was sick of hearing everyone praise Dahlia, sick of spending her days in fear and always planning how to avoid being caught alone by her sister, sick of feeling like there was something wrong with her because everyone loved Dahlia. And Fox could never be sure if they just didn't notice how cruel Dahlia could be, or if they just didn't care, or if it was normal because it was what she deserved for — for being her. Wrong. Less.

It was all confusing. Most of all she wanted a safe place to cry. Somewhere Dahlia couldn't find her.

She thought maybe she would visit home. Fox didn't realize just how far home was until she found herself in a strange place, a myriad of lakes all reflecting the sunlight and tall trees with intricate webs spun between their branches. She'd thought she would have reached home by now, or somewhere close. But she didn't recognize this place at all.

Eventually she found a place to tuck herself away between the broad roots of a tree. Foxglove turned several times before she curled up and prepared to cry. A sharp sting in her hind paw interrupted her plans. She yelped and snatched her paw away, holding it close to her body. Fox whipped around to see what had bitten her, but it had fled — and already the pain was flaring to a wildfire in her paw.