The Bracken Woods ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

The fire, fresh in her mind, and haunted her as a plague for the past few days. Sleep wasn't an option, all she can hear were the screams and pleas of her family, falling to the flames. The forest ablazed, and the sky falling with ashes, she could only flee. Everything was left behind, her home, her family, her friends. 

For days, did she only walk, there was no stopping for the elk. Her sides, burnt lightly that with the touch of the wind she winced. Paws, burning from the embers Célnes had to step on to escape. She was injured, but alive, unlike bretheren that was buried under the fallen, flaming debris. 

Only after days of walking, did she finally collapse on the cold ground of the north. A fleeting feeling of gentleness for her burning body, only for to curl as her body aches. She was tired.. However, she needed to continue. There was still hope, that maybe, they were out there.

Cenric was not looking like himself. His usual well-kept pelt was now bedraggled and singed by the fire that tore through his home. He was lucky to make it out alive. Everything and everyone had been burnt to a crisp.

Almost, he corrected himself. Almost everyone.

He refused to believe everything he knew was gone.

With his tracking skills and a bit of luck, he caught wind of one of his siblings. He followed the trail to where she now lie.

Célnes, he called. There was a bit more edge to his voice than usual. Cenric couldn’t mistake his littermate for anyone else. She too was injured by the flames. They could tend to their wounds later. There were more pressing matters to worry about.

He trotted to his sister’s side and leaned down so he could make eye contact. Who is with you?

Piercing, orange eyes. They were like the flames themselves, sharp and feirce.. Similar to her father, but his voice was different, and when he fully came to view, she knew it was not his image, "Cenric." Her voice was crisp, days of bare minimum water without talking; inhaling soot and dry air, it was a surprise she could speak.

Célnes pushed herself upward, to properly see him, "You are alive." The elk couldn't help but beam with a smile of relief, as she pushed herself toward him in an embrace. A comfort into his fur, making sure he was truly there, "only you," but he was the only one. The eldest of them all, she had seen none of their little brothers or sisters.

Did they make it out?

Cenric did not move away from her embrace, though he wished to. He wasn’t the most affectionate wolf of the bunch. Touching made him want to gag, even in a precious moment like this. Despite his disgust he stayed in place, thinking it was the least he could do for her right now. He didn’t stay in place for long.

He pulled away to look scan their surroundings. It can’t just be us. Cenric still had a bit of hope left. Very strange of him.

Célnes wanted to chuckle, but coughed instead. He was never an affectionate one, and rarely liked being touch; perhaps it was a blessing from the High Elk that she had even got that close to him. It felt odd to miss this part of Cenric, but she was so thankful he was alive.

"I don't know about our parents," the wolven elk commented, "but surely our siblings, maybe cousins." She had hope they were alive, while their younger brothers and sisters were still learning, they were smart enough to be able to escape. She had fled alone, and did not see if they followed out of the fires. She only hoped, they all went in the same direction if it was true.

Cenric could not deny the possible demise of their parents. They were old and worn down. If the flames didn’t get them, then the smoke probably did. His heart clenched up for a brief moment.

They may not have survived, but there was hope for the younger generation. There had to be more survivors somewhere out there. If the siblings hurried now they may have a chance to find them.

We’ll look for them as soon as our wounds heal. It’d do them no good to go out and search in this state. Can you walk?

"Yeah," she grown weak over the days of walking. However with her brother, she felt a newfound energy come forward. A better hope, that the rest of their family was alive and well, "how are you doing?" while alive, perhaps not well, to say. They all been burned, singed, damaged. 

"Perhaps we should find a water source." She suggested, after inquiring about his well-being. Most instincts would venture toward water after the flames, and maybe they would be able to find their siblings there if true. They as well, needed to mend to their own bodies.

where did they go?

injured and lost, freóbearn wandered southward from their decimated home in search of her scattered siblings. she hadn’t eaten, nor had she slept, two choices with a toll she could now feel taking effect.

she stumbled drunkenly through a small collection of ferns, her ears perked to hear more clearly the nearby voices. can you walk? — cenric?

hello? she called. freóbearn paused to look around, then spotted the pair not far from where she stood. excitement might have made her run under different, more fortunate circumstances.

instead, it was relief that drew her near to célnes’s side. you’re alive, freó breathed, have you seen kendrick? a touch was placed on both of their sides, should the siblings have allowed it, before moving back to help célnes onto her feet.

Cenric didn't feel the need to answer that question. They were at an all time low. Wasn't that obvious? He wouldn't try to dig for any good feeling right now. Instead of answering he just raised a brow and frowned. That was telling enough.

Yes. He had been too busy tracking down his siblings to care about his injuries. Now that he had found one, he was beginning to come back to his senses. Water sounded very inviting right now. He was eager to wash this disgusting ash off. And we’ll rest by the water for the rest of the day.

Out of the two of them he seemed to be the one in better shape, so he offered his sister a shoulder to rest on. Before he took a step forward, someone called out to the pair. He knew that voice and that face from anywhere.

Fréobearn, he said when she closed in on them. I haven’t.

The elk nodded, finding that a good plan, "let's recuperate at the waters and search for our siblings." As the eldest, the two were always the ones to properly look after Ken and Fréo, they all grew up together. While Cenric, tended to do his own thing majority of the time, she still liked to believe they were all close enough. Célnes couldn't imagine going forward without trying to search for them.

She was going to lean onto his side, when their youngest sister slipped between the two. She smiled with joy, "Fréobearn," she coo'd like a mother, "i'm glad you are here." However, the other was still a miss. She touched her sister back with warmth, thankful for her survival.

"We're going to rest by the water a bit, then we will start looking for him."

She felt relatively calm- suppose they all had a more stillness rather then despair for what happened. She wasn't sure why it felt like this, perhaps it was the pure hope, and knowing, that their family of four was still alive. She had confidence, and fear.

freóbearn’s concern was unashamedly clear, contorting her expression further into a frown. they couldn’t know whether kendrick was alive or not until seeing him; if he was, then his wounds would also need to be addressed, and if he wasn’t, then he deserved a proper burial. 

however, she could yet do neither of those things for her brother, a thought which festered and burned. well, freóbearn sighed, i’ll examine you, and then you can have your rest. freó looked first to célnes, then to cenric, assuring that they all agreed.

the stream grew nearer, much to (she was sure) all of their relief. whichever sibling offered themself first would have their wounds silently, but thoroughly assessed.

They’re lucky their sister came when she did. With her medical expertise their wounds would heal faster. The stronger they were, the better chance they had of finding Kendrick.

Cenric followed Fréobearn to the stream, keeping close to Célnes’s side until they arrived. He stepped away from his sister and looked at his younger sibling expectantly. He’d be the last to be treated.

close?

The trio went toward the stream to relax and get a drink. She had barely drunk anything, and felt overly parched. It was a relief they were alive, even if Kendrick was not among them. For now, Célnes drifted herself down into a lay, while her sister would start treatment between the two. Her sides were clear to look- she didn't care who was first, "We will find them."

"All of them," the girl muttered, before slipping into a rather daze.. A soon to be slumber.