Blackfeather Woods searching every room, I am not free

She took chase. Of course, even with her familiarity with the woods, rusty as it was, her clubbed foot soon found her lagging behind. 

Eventually, she pulled up hard, a cloud of old leaves and dirt floating up around her.

Stardust on earth. It sparkled, and smelled of the most homely things. 

Maegi began to laugh, then, sending hysterical howls in the direction of the retreating woman. Echoing off the trees, reverberating in her heart. 

Still chuckling, she gathered herself again, preening at her chest fur as if nothing at all had occurred.

She needed a bath. She smelled of fungus and bird shit. But after that. . .

Let's go home, Maegi, she murmured, and turned westward.