Wapun Meadow do we stand a chance to rise above it all

She was so engulfed in her own grief that she did not notice Marten's approach, not at first. Only when she heard his voice behind her Laurel realised that he was still there and she startled at first. Having travelled the lands before with just Indra, she was wary of dangers on the way and quick to be defensive. But she recognised his voice. Laurel did not turn around to face him, unable to confront him with the pain that painted her features. She and Indra had wanted a different life for their children.. but it had been doomed to failure from the very start.

Now she didn't even know what to say to Marten, who wasn't even biologically theirs but his mother had doomed him just as much as Laurel and Indra had their own brood, and his second chance. Laurel sniffed away the last sobs and said, still turned away from him: "Everything is okay. Go back to sleep, sweetie." She somewhat-accidentally used one of the words she usually only used for her own pups -- for Piper and Lucas -- that she had never used for Marten before, but it was out before she realised it.