Blacktail Deer Plateau burnt earth

Easy nodded in understanding, feeling a little bit better about the obstacles her mother would have to overcome in order to find them. Daddy said that he'd been leaving scent-messages for her every day he was gone, so that helped her feel better, too. With the scent of lavender flowers now wafting out from the borders, Momma would surely be able to find them.

Pema sure is nice, thought Easy, tail wagging idly as they headed back toward the rendezvous. While she knew that she could've gotten one of the other adults to help her with this task as well, it seemed significant that Pema had been the one to take her, and the one to comfort her when she cried. It was almost as good as having Daddy around - especially when they started to race!

Soon enough, though, the tiny girl tired and went back to her unsteady lope. It seemed like it took a lot longer to get back to the rendezvous than it took to get to the borders.