Noctisardor Bypass shela

tiny optional pup + mom meeting, small/single replies welcome, PPing artie & averie <3

heda wasn't sure how to tell the children that druid wasn't coming back. in truth, she often forced herself to imagine her sister returning up the path, and such dreamings took enough mental energy.
but, she reminded herself, the time would come, and soon. she couldn't let them grow up thinking that druid had abandoned them.
as the sun tipped the high canopies in gold, heda gathered @Artio, @Goldfinch, @Averie, @Kikimora, @Ezra, and @Gideon at the rendezvous. she brought them sweet berries and more honey; she gave them each a flower and she smiled as they turned their faces toward her.
"your mama druid loves you so much," heda began, trying only to hold what her sister had said in her mind as long as she could. "she got sick and she had to — to go away. so no one else would get sick. she's sorry she had to leave without saying goodbye," heda managed, but not before a single tear snuck its way onto her face. "ah — she said she's going to try everything she can to come back, but — but if she doesn't, you're very loved."
stricken, terrified of their reaction, the lone den mother searched their eyes, trying to remain strong as her own heart broke again, and again, and again.