Broken Boulder To The Galaxy And Beyond

She rarely stayed up nights, but this evening, Lily's mind was restless. Pulling herself from her den, she shook out her pelt and trotted out of the tunnel, emerging into the summer night air with a deep sigh. She padded in discontent for a long while, her brain flitting from topic to bloody topic until a sound drew her attention. A sort of keening, a mournful noise. . .

Her ears led her down an aural trail, and she found herself at the base of Star Rock. Above her head, Korei was perched--and crying. Brows knitting in concern, Lily clambered up the boulder, pressing herself against her friend's side with murmured, wordless endearments.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong, love?" she asked gently, pressing her muzzle against the pale girl's cheek. "Why are you sad? It's all right, shhh, it's okay." Her dark tail swept slowly over Korei's flank, almost like a hand petting a fretful cat, calm and steady. She rarely, if ever, saw Korei in a mood less than cheerful; something must have happened to bring her down so.