Phoenix Maplewood gold and seide

Me too, the yearling said quietly, ears tilting backward at the unpleasant memory. She stared at the ground for a beat, then lifted her mismatched gaze to Jorunn’s pale features as she added, Yes, she’s my best friend aside from my sisters.

Mentioning them made her think of Heda too. Druid’s chest tightened. Suddenly, she pivoted to peer at the bypass over Jorunn’s shoulder. She had pledged herself to Rivenwood, declaring that she would never leave. But in the end, it was only soil. She missed the wolves who had once peopled it, even those she hadn’t thought she would, like Wylla.

Druid took a deep breath, held it, released it. I want to go visit her—or my sister who lives to the west—but… She swallowed. She suddenly felt bolted down to Rivenwood. And she had driven the stakes through her very own feet.

For a moment or two, she let the rest of her thoughts go unspoken. And when her lips moved again, they said something entirely different. It hurts so much, when they leave you. I didn’t know it would feel like this. It almost makes me want to… Again, she trailed off, one of her black forepaws curling into a clenched fist.