Bearclaw Valley a new day,

time worked in mysterious ways. some days felt as if they would never end, and others passed by with so much as a blink.

nephele had expected there to be a wait before they were greeted, but if time had passed between them, she did not feel it. had the woman just been swift? or had nephele lost herself to the quicksand of her mind?

she could not tell the difference these days.

a dip of her snout was given to the woman's greeting and introduction. a turn then to introduce herself and daughters. "my name is nephele," she revealed just as zephyra joined the collection and laid to rest. "the larger of the two is anatolia, the other zephyra."

she wished to smile for them, but she found her strength lacking to do so.

her focus swiveled back to ameline, a desperation sunk so deeply upon her eyes that they might collapse inward. "we have suffered a loss, and we have grown weary from travel."

"we search for somewhere new now, some place that might become home for us once more."