Ouroboros Spine oh no no no no no

he'd returned, briefly, to the fields. when there was no hide nor hair of the girl there, he'd continued onward. 

damn—how had they not sensed her slipping away?!

aditya was racked with worry as he ascended the slope, teeth aching from constant grinding and gnashing. he'd reunited with his sort-of mate, only to find that their daughter had vanished.

i'll find her, said the valiant, decrepit aditya.

and so find her he would.

his steps were coming shorter with each increase in altitude, breath hitching in his chest. he wondered. . .how far could she have gone? how much was he absolutely fucked?

she chose to leave, a niggling voice in his conscience sang,

but she's a child, aditya countered, growling, and let loose a howl at the first scent of borders, hoping beyond hope that they would have answers for him here.