10/9/2025, 5:08 AM
She’d awakened some time ago, though her body remained on its side; still, except for ribs rising and falling with slow and steady breaths. Within the safety of her new den, freshly dug and sparse, Senka’s mind washed over the latest dream.
She’d seen the earth crack open with fissures once before, though not to such a violent degree. She remembered the rolling and shuddering earth beneath her paws. Trees snapped and fell to the ground around the pack, unable to withstand their unsteady foundation. She recalled the cries of her children as she ushered them to run toward the meadow. Clumsy little paws wobbled enough on solid ground, yet she and Kian could only carry one each. Heart pummeled against her chest, breath quickening, as if she were back there, fleeing from the safety of their forest once again. The wild panic as she scrambled to keep her family together. Wishing they were birds and could simply take flight above the sudden betrayal of their home. Senka remembered the earth settling as they reached the meadow’s edge, only to find a jagged rift split through the soft grasses. Some members of the pack had already arrived and were inspecting it with wary eyes, while others had yet to escape the collapsing forest.
Her eye focused as she pulled herself from the memories. Was this dream a warning of what was to come? A premonition? The wolf rose. She needed to speak with Kirain. She needed to be among Camhanaich. Her spirit pulled her forth.
Senka slunk out of her den and stopped, jaw growing slack. The once-golden forest was shrouded with a dense, wet fog, its yellow-orange leaves now cast in a bloody hue. Everything was suddenly wrong. Unease grew. Her usual untroubled countenance felt much like that old crack in the ground - worry shone through her own fractures. The old woman gave a stubborn shake of her head and entered the thick cloud of mist. It penetrated her thin coat with each hastened step toward the stones. Reaching the fringe of Druids Rise, Senka lifted her nose and let out a rusty howl. It had grown coarse with age, much like her voice. Identifiable in a way that would have made Senka insecure once upon a time.
Does the pack have a meeting place among the Rise? Questions for another time. Senka’s ears pricked forward for a response.
She’d seen the earth crack open with fissures once before, though not to such a violent degree. She remembered the rolling and shuddering earth beneath her paws. Trees snapped and fell to the ground around the pack, unable to withstand their unsteady foundation. She recalled the cries of her children as she ushered them to run toward the meadow. Clumsy little paws wobbled enough on solid ground, yet she and Kian could only carry one each. Heart pummeled against her chest, breath quickening, as if she were back there, fleeing from the safety of their forest once again. The wild panic as she scrambled to keep her family together. Wishing they were birds and could simply take flight above the sudden betrayal of their home. Senka remembered the earth settling as they reached the meadow’s edge, only to find a jagged rift split through the soft grasses. Some members of the pack had already arrived and were inspecting it with wary eyes, while others had yet to escape the collapsing forest.
Her eye focused as she pulled herself from the memories. Was this dream a warning of what was to come? A premonition? The wolf rose. She needed to speak with Kirain. She needed to be among Camhanaich. Her spirit pulled her forth.
Senka slunk out of her den and stopped, jaw growing slack. The once-golden forest was shrouded with a dense, wet fog, its yellow-orange leaves now cast in a bloody hue. Everything was suddenly wrong. Unease grew. Her usual untroubled countenance felt much like that old crack in the ground - worry shone through her own fractures. The old woman gave a stubborn shake of her head and entered the thick cloud of mist. It penetrated her thin coat with each hastened step toward the stones. Reaching the fringe of Druids Rise, Senka lifted her nose and let out a rusty howl. It had grown coarse with age, much like her voice. Identifiable in a way that would have made Senka insecure once upon a time.
Kirain?She called softly,
Camhanaich?
Does the pack have a meeting place among the Rise? Questions for another time. Senka’s ears pricked forward for a response.
