The Sunspire Falling Away

@Raheerah Pale gilded curled heaved on the weight of their burden, the new-found weight of food and adrenaline bearing down on her fragile bones. The warm maw was still wet, drawn agape by the laboring breath exuded as heavy paws and taxed limbs traversed treacherous peaks to place distance between the worn body and cruel earth. For there, on the ground... in the vast expanse of white, were where the monsters dwelt disguised by camaraderie. Bearing the false masks of understanding to ensnare her, and once again draw her back to the very path she had tried so desperately to avoid. Yes, she was running. Always running. She was a coward in that regard; fleeing from what she knew she needed. It was no longer a matter of pride, but blatant fear that crept into her heart. The monster of solitude had indeed made her a fool, but a needing fool of its terrible company. And only its. The pleasures of warmth and continuous feeding were not hers to have without a price, as always. Such a small fee to pay considering the benefit that came with the sacrifice. But her mind... no. Her heart was much too frightened to make it, lest she return to the life she had only just escaped. A damned existence suffered in the isolation of others where her words went unheard and her purpose was demeaning. However realistic the offer, however desperately she needed to comply, the risk of a condemning future as had been her past was to great to suffer again simply because another would ask it of her. Rather she die cold upon the mountain, than warm upon her bed of isolation. Earth and loose snow gave way to her weight as she continued her hurried ascent toward refuge. She knew little of the mountain other than the nooks she had spied and stolen away into for a night at best. And even those she could not recall at the moment, not when her mind raced in panic. Her heart thundered away against its brittle cage, paining her to exhaustion til all she wanted to do was rest. Instead of taking flight to lie on the flat ledge of the mountain, she could have rested beside the kill and savored the tender meats just a bit longer until she was ready to move on. But her actions had to be hastened. Her paw had to be forced. Luck had never truly been on her side without a cost. ...though she did not imagine its price would have effected her this much. She was a stubborn fool indeed.