Nova Peak some walks you have to take alone

I'm back, amen for that! Sorry for the brief long post; I just can't wait to start writing again! For @Bazi @Scimitar @Kaskara and @Kieran if you have time <3

A shrill, beastly scream barely recognized by even herself escaped her. As the blood pooled around him, she staggered backward, losing her senses. It was dark, dull, and quiet, the only sound occupying the air her shallow and quick breaths. ‘NO!’ she cried, at first loud, then mute as she watched her brother’s life disappear right before her. Her body convulsed, at first a slight tremble, and then she couldn’t control her body anymore. It was it’s own being.
 
The sound of two more bangs in the air brought her back to reality. She approached her brother’s lifeless body, staring at her with lifeless eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whimpered. It was all her fault — if she hadn’t come, she wouldn’t have alerted the Troopers. Her body began trembling again, but she turned tail before she could re-enter her state. It was the hardest thing she’d ever done.
 


Silence. It was all she heard save her voice every mentally excruciating step of the way. She racked her brain, telling herself in a monotone, dry voice that what she’d experienced was real. She knew, didn’t acknowledge, but she knew that the pain would go away if she let herself go, but she couldn’t let herself go because she knew she wouldn't be able to handle it. The second she dropped herself, she would unravel, and she didn’t think she would be able to pick herself back up.
 
Her paws carried her heavy, brother-stained body, which hadn’t eaten in the matter of the few weeks she’d spent travelling. She had stopped for water. Occasionally — and everytime she knew she was about to burst. If only she was prepared for the tsunami of emotions when she returned.
 
Falwasi did not know how she arrived at Nova Peak; which route she’d taken, if she’d passed through other territories… She couldn’t even remember how many times she’d stopped for a drink. The previous weeks had flashed in a haze, and her only memory was... Her lip began to tremble, but she bit it down, hard. She couldn’t cry, not now.
 
The mountain grew before her, an angel or a demon she couldn’t tell. She stopped at the base — away from the forest, in plain sight. Maybe they wouldn’t remember her scent. She had no idea.

It was by chance Scimitar came upon her -- she stopped close to their borders like a wraith, and the cinnamon wolf studied her for a moment as he descended the mountain. HIs paws moved with a swiftness that only learned such grace upon the very slopes he had claimed, and at first, his tail swung contently at the sight of Falwasi -- one of their most loyal had returned to them.

Something seemed wrong though. He slowed his pace, his aqua eyes searching her much thinner form.. the ragged appearance. A light frown flickered across his features, and as he once more quickened his pace to quickly close the distance between them, he was not quite certain what to expect. What had happened? "Falwasi," he greeted, his voice warm, as he attempted to withhold his uncertainty from her. "Welcome home."

Kaskara had been patrolling the borders, making the rounds of the rising and falling terrain, marking where their scent had begun to fade. It was menial work, but she enjoyed it, knowing she was making the world safer for her nieces and nephews. She hadn't seen her brother since Bazi returned from Danica's dead body, when she had left the pups (safely, mind you) in the den alone. They had been alone for only a few moments, seconds at best, and none had been harmed. None except Scimitar, whose pride and shoulder had been wounded. Kaskara hadn't said anything to him since, his wrath a barrier between them.

So it was with a heavy hear that she followed his scent down the mountain that day, wondering if she should speak to him, if it had been long enough to cool his temper. But what she saw was something different, that made her heart stop: Falwasi had returned, looking worse for wear. Kas didn't speak, but closed he distance between them and set her nose to the girl's cheek, loving her, letting her know she was home, that it would all be okay. She stepped back after a moment, eyes studying her friend, noting the gaunt features, the old blood. What had happened?

Scimitar followed Kaskara, and Bazi followed her sister.

A trail of leaders wound their way down the mountain. When Bazi emerged, bright white and luminous against the shadowy forest, the other two were already at Falwasi's side. Even from a distance, she looked thin and ragged. A breeze brushed the scent of blood under Bazi's nose, summoning her forward.

She hung back, staying close to her sister's flank, eyeing Falwasi with a mixture of concern and curiosity. Their last talk had featured a savage tale of murder and mystery - and here was Falwasi, crusty with blood and so obviously beaten by the world. "What happened to you?" Bazi asked, vocalizing what the others were thinking.