Altar of Twilight Stars in the Sky

Dwin knew that this would eventually happen - you could not keep loneliness at bay forever. Still she had tried - filling her days with activities that would distract her mind from the realization that none of her family lived here anymore. Now and then she would feel anxious, hoping that they had not gone too far, that she could still catch up with them, were she to try. But weeks had passed, it had rained often, snowed at times as well and any scent trails had been long since washed away. 

She wondered, how her father was holding up, and now and then she wondered, had she returned earlier, maybe her presence could have saved the dwindling ranks. On the other hand - the memory of feeling trapped inside Brecheliant was still strong - and she knew that she simply could not devote herself fully to Eljay's wishes without losing part of herself in the process. So - the only conclusion left was that everything had turned out the way it should have been. Even if it did not feel great at the moment. 

Rather than sticking around caldera, she decided to move north and - perhaps - visit her friend Val. Besides Towhee - she remembered - that he too was her friend. In almost three years of life Dwin had made exactly two friends outside her family. Thus lost in thought she walked through the little valley between the mountain ranges and crossed paths with the two other wanderers. One was in plain sight, the other - was hidden by the shadows. "Greetings to the fellow adventurer," she greeted the one she could see, while keeping an eye on the other that was lurking nearby. "Where's the path taking you today?"