Phoenix Maplewood rome is burning

MANDATORY. keeping things vague for now, since the original thread is still progressing. set shortly after the fire. @Dawn @Sunny @Sebastian @Loir @Pema @Aviana @Radcliffe @Padma @River @Faye @Meadow

all was chaos. the morningsiders had scattered to the winds, grabbing the pups and trying to stay together as best they can. but as aditya stood near the muddy pond, in the heart of the maplewood--the fire, inexplicably, had stopped just short of the forest--his head count came up drastically short. his heart was in his throat as he feared for so many, and he tipped his nose back and let loose a howl, the loudest call he could muster, hoping that it would reach his lost packmates.

he turned to sybella, giving her a fearful glance. then paced almost in circles, waiting for the others to join him. his breath came short and fast; he thought of kitten, who he'd sent running. had she made it to the moraine--would she hear his call? had pema and aviana successfully rounded up all the children?

how could this have happened? well--god, he knew why. it had been dry and hot, and the rains missed them each and every time. one spark had sealed their fate. but on top of everything that had happened to them. . .why this, too? aditya was not one to curse the divine, and he wouldn't now, but he damn well had questions. and he wanted answers.

hariji, yeh kyon hai? ab kyon? hamare kyon?