Morningside Cuesta song sung blue

Not much had changed about this part of the country. Moorhen felt strange as she walked the old paths, gazing into the middle distance as she thought about the past. Here was where she had very nearly been married. Where she had learned her real name. Where she had found love and succor amongst the wolves of Undersea. Where she had realized her purpose was to protect what was hers.

She had many daughters, now. They were much like her, and they would protect one another on the coast where they'd been born.

But Moorhen had been born here. Well — not here, but in this general direction. She kept one ear cupped toward the coast, but of course, there was nothing for her to hear. She would not travel that way just yet. She did not want to know what had become of those often war-torn territories. Part of her feared the would be ruled by wolves all too familiar to her. Part of her worried she would find it just as unchanged as the valley of sunshine.

The erne shook herself from her rumination to resume her hunt. Just in time — she pounced on a rabbit with a spry precision that defied her aging body. She had good days and bad days, growing old. But she had some years in her yet.

Carrying her prize, Moorhen trotted off toward the ridge in hope of finding a sunny spot to have her dinner.