Wheeling Gull Isle after sundown, before sleeping, i am the worst

She felt a punch in the gut as Jakoul answered, a fiercer, more brutal blow than she had expected. Not dead, nor still unseen. . .but living. Living elsewhere. Far lands, the woman explained, and then told Maegi that she had reminded the girl of her mother.

Does she—miss me? Maegi responded, punching the words through a painfully tight throat. The tears had come again and flowed freely down her cheeks, a bittersweet cascade. 

Alive, but away. And not with her. Nor, it seemed, willing to go with Jakoul to find her. She did not envy her daughter a new home—she hoped that Sakhmet had all she wanted and more—but Jaes, what she would give to have the red girl by her side! 

And, of course, she wondered if her own deficiencies as a mother were at play.

Maybe she had found somewhere better. Someone better.

Someone who didn't lose their children at every turn.

She swayed a little, pressing against Jakoul's side for support as they entered the forest. At least there was this. Maegi dared not ask for much more.