Blackfeather Woods the good, the bad, the crazy

Euron was right--Cicero didn't look good. Their patchwork father was bloodied and beaten down, his mismatched eyes dull with pain and fatigue. While she was relieved to find him alive, she knew he needed help. . .and her brain had already began to rifle through the possibilities when Euron's gaze fell on her, his question hanging between them.

"I. . ." Her voice trailed off, uncertain. For all she had learned about Blackfeather lore, her knowledge of plants was woefully small; all she really knew was poisons, and only those Cicero had shown her. She firmed her jaw as she strained to find some solution. "I've heard that poppies can help to make people stop hurting," Maegi offered timidly, peering in at Cicero. "And--oh! The moss in the Mire, it soaks up water. Maybe it soaks up blood, too?"

She had no earthly idea what the poppy flower looked like, nor did she know how to apply moss--but it was worth a try, right? Before she could run to fetch any, however, Cicero emerged from the den, falling to the ground. The forest is not safe anymore. Cicero can lead you to a safe place. Maegi frowned, surveying their father on the ground with visible doubt. She didn't think Cicero could lead them anywhere, in this condition, and besides, if the pups had gotten here by themselves, couldn't they flee to safety on their own power, too?

Her eyes darted sharply to Ramsay as he spoke, silently applauding his marvelous sense of direction (she, herself, was utterly lost in that regard). The girl did flinch, though, at his next words. She hadn't heard the vile words thrown around--she had been so lost in thought that all but actions had sailed over her head--and she disapproved of her brother's words toward Vaati. Threats had been made, after all. Why shouldn't Vaati throw them right back?

"Why isn't the forest safe?" Maegi asked Cicero, leaving Ramsay's comments unanswered, for now. "Aren't they all gone? Aren't we the only ones here, now? Why can't we just stay here?"