Dawnlark Plains bead fern

A call rose, and needles of the instruction, Ridgeback moved to answer- only to find his steps slowing to a stop once he caught the scent of blood on the air. He listened for a moment, but could not withstand the rise Star Eater’s voice. If he was to remember her voice at all, he preferred to remember it filled with warmth, not pain.

The stand of trees in the distance rose and served as a fit warning against trespass. In the area, the scent of Sun Eater lingered, and his path cut a winding switchback indicative of stress. Perhaps he had been onto something earlier, when he’d worried about the howls he’d heard. 

No no no no no, He murmured to himself as he began to follow the misleading trail of his leader, away from where Star Eater had made her birthing place. I should’ve gone to see what was up. Damnit, why didn’t I just go? He reprimanded himself under his breath, only the faint twitching of his whiskers might have betrayed him. 

The wind shifted, and drew his attention up. He squinted, searching until he found a patch of shadow on the toppled boulders, fur tousled by the breeze. His ears flicked back and he whined softly, a wordless expression of apology and concern.