Before she knew it the land was changing because she just...kept moving. Further and further away from Northfall her legs carried her. In her mind danced everything that had transgressed, the way Wardruna swore she still loved her, insisted Sheauga still remain in her — their, den. But she hadn't. She'd left anyway; only moments after Wardruna had slipped out to busy herself. She'd found Sreda first, and then after an attempt at finding a place she could belong among them promptly blew up in her face.

She'd fled the only home she'd ever known in Mythris.

Dried, hardened fur still traced the track marks on her face, chest empty and aching. She held onto one sliver of hope for relief from her pain, one stranger she'd felt an ancient kindship with. Someone that reminded her of the home she was born to. East. Tamaska had said she was going east.

So Sheauga went east holding onto the slim chance that she could find her. She was faced with unfamiliar terrain and a body that was still recovering, exhausted in every sense of the word she slumped down onto her rump as fresh tears pricked her eyes, snow settling on her back.

—
for Tamaska
❝ speech ❞

Winter continued to bite at the valley's residents, nipping at their heels and causing disarray. One woman in particular was doing her best to keep active, helping out her new clan as best she could. She had been attempting to track down some deer she had scented earlier, only to come up empty pawed as the winds scattered their trail. What was brought to her instead was the scent of a friend. Sheauga was somewhere nearby, coming closer in a quick amount of time.

Tamaska ran right after her, caramel eyes seeking the racoon patterned woman like her life depended on it. With the way the world has been, everyone needed to learn to help each other. Otherwise, no one would get through this unscathed. Soon the woman in question came into view, allowing Tamaska to breath a sigh of relief. A quick bark in friendship left her maw as she made her way closer in happy greeting.

 She clenched her jaw tight, ears pitched back as the tears streamed down her face; head bowed in her grief that had finally come to swallow her whole. It was the bark that brought her back to reality, she startled head lifting slowly causing the snow to slip from the back of her neck as her blurred vision searched for the source.

❝ Tamaska... ❞ she breathed, voice wavering in disbelief. Sheauga would push herself upright, legs trembling from exhaustion — they kept her from rushing forward. ❝ You are here...I wasn't sure I'd ever find you, but you said...you were going east. ❞ her gaze dropped for a moment.

❝ I didn't know where else to go, ❞ Tamaska didn't know her predicament, but she would soon she was sure.


—
for Tamaska
❝ speech ❞

The closer she got to Sheauga, the more she could see that things had gone wrong. Tamaska rushed to her side, worry written all over her face as she watched her dear friend cry. It was almost too much to bare. Do not worry, my friend. I am here now. It will be alright. The beige woman took her friend in her own embrace, if such a thing was allowed.

Now tell me what happened. Did someone hurt you? Why aren't you with your pack? Something had happened to be sure, but Tamaska's head was whirling with all of the possible scenarios. One thing was for sure however: Tamaska would make sure that she was never hurt again.

 "Do not worry, my friend. I am here now. It will be alright" nothing was alright. Wardruna was off with her happily ever after, her family. And Sheauga was alone, feeling like she didn't belong in the place she fought so hard to return to. She didn't resist the embrace, folding into it as if she had been holding herself upright on will alone.

"Now tell me what happened. Did someone hurt you? Why aren't you with your pack?" her ears would lower in sorrow. ❝ I have — had a mate back home. Her name is Wardruna. And I fought so hard to get back to her. ❞ the confession came with a small defeated sigh. ❝ But in the four months I was gone — by no choice of my own — she started a family with someone else ❞ her brows knit, confused all over again as the words were spoken into reality here with Tamaska. ❝ It was supposed to be our family, she asked me to start a family with her ❞ she added on.

And then, quickly. ❝ I don't think she wanted me to leave, she said she still loved me but.... ❞ she hesitated for a moment. ❝ I don't think there is a place for me there now, not truly ❞ how could she belong as a third wheel to Wardruna's budding family.

—
for Tamaska
❝ speech ❞

The news hit her like a ton of bricks, a sickening feeling entering her stomach almost making her ill. What kind of woman does that? Tamaska held her close, thinking that in this moment, she was probably almost all Sheauga had left after this ordeal. She wished that she knew what to say to her. It was hard to be put in such a horrible situation, to feel like you have been replaced by someone you loved. Now what was she supposed to do without her other half?

Tamaska then held a stern face, though still filled with compassion. Sheauga, if you will accept my offer, you can come with me. I don't care how ever long you want to stay, but you are welcomed with me and my new pack. I can promise you that. I won't ever hurt you, and will make sure no one does ever again. Her heart strings were being pulled to the max here, aching as if she was feeling the hurt right along with her. But now she had the opportunity to make a change, and she just hoped that it worked out.

 She listened without interrupting, battling with her own defeat as the offer settled like a cloak being draped around her shoulders. "Sheauga, if you will accept my offer, you can come with me. I don't care how ever long you want to stay, but you are welcomed with me and my new pack. I can promise you that. I won't ever hurt you, and will make sure no one does ever again" for a moment she didn't speak.

❝ You are too good to me, ❞ she murmured eventually eyes cast downward. But in time she would come to flicker them up to Tamaska's face, studying the light tans that outline her features. ❝ You don't know how much this means right now... ❞ a sigh flitted from her maw, but to leave Northfall? The only place she had known for the last two years. To leave Wardruna . She chewed on the inside of her cheek anxiously.

Sheauga could feel the pull to leave, it was the very reason she was here at all; that she no longer had a place in Northfall, or with Wardruna.

But she was also afraid.

❝ It is...hard, to leave everything I have known ❞ she stumbled through the words, gaze falling. ❝ But you don't feel like someone I have only just met. I feel like I've known you all my life — like a river I've always known how to cross ❞ she allowed the words to spill as she mulled over the crossroads placed before her.

—
❝ speech ❞

The decision to come with Tamaska was a huge one, that she greatly understood. Yet it felt so natural to her, to have this little racoon wolf at her side. As if it was always meant to happen. I can only begin to imagine what you are going through, and won't pretend to understand your hardship. That would be dishonest and a farce. The tan woman let her features soften just a bit, allowing a small closed lipped smile to form. Just enough to try and reassure the lost soul in front of her.

But I will do what I can to make sure that your time with me is well spent, precious. I have felt the same way about you since our first meeting, you are the soft moss I lay against for comfort. It feels as though I have known you for several lifetimes, despite how short it actually has been. I hope that we can continue to share this friendship, see where it goes down the road. Warm toned eyes looked into her purple hues, hoping she felt the same way.

What do you think, Sheauga? Isn't it about time you put your own needs to the forefront? To explore something entirely new and exciting? And it's all yours for the taking. Truth spilled from her like a guardian spirit, the kind that was bound to you since your very birth. Leading you on to heights unknown, promising you good things to come if you just looked in all the right places.

 "I can only begin to imagine what you are going through, and won't pretend to understand your hardship. That would be dishonest and a farce." she would just listen, allowing Tamaska to share her thoughts, "But I will do what I can to make sure that your time with me is well spent, precious. I have felt the same way about you since our first meeting, you are the soft moss I lay against for comfort. It feels as though I have known you for several lifetimes, despite how short it actually has been. I hope that we can continue to share this friendship, see where it goes down the road."

Soft moss.

The image came to life in her mind, cool earth beneath towering trees, the hush of a forest, rich and alive. A contradictory warmth to the frozen peaks of Northfall. And beyond that warmth of course was Northfall still. So fresh and raw in her heart, the hollow echo of their den and Wardruna's voice in the dark grated against the idea of a new path. A new life.

"What do you think, Sheauga? Isn't it about time you put your own needs to the forefront? To explore something entirely new and exciting? And it's all yours for the taking."

Tamaska made it sound so easy, like a door that was already open and all Sheauga had to do was step across the threshold, and she wanted to. She wanted to because she could see it, a different valley, different faces, mornings that would not taste like regret. But her love for Wardruna didn't dissolve just because she had hurt her.

❝ You make it sound so simple — but I am afraid ❞ she would offer plainly, eyes casting down to her own paws. ❝ Would you...walk with me for a while? ❞ she merely needed to think, process all of this without the pressure of a decision bearing down on her back.

—
❝ speech ❞

It was painfully obvious for anyone to see. Sheauga still loved who ever had broken her heart, still feeling the tug of something lost and not ready to forget. Tamaska offered simply a shoulder to cry on, a path forward when she was ready. Of course, my dear. Take your time. I will follow you anywhere, just say the word. The beige woman went to her friend's side, walking along with her when she was ready. It was a horrible thing to have one's heart ripped out and stomped on for the world to see. She only hoped and wished that Sheauga would be able to heal. In time, she would be.