So plz let Kemo post first, and then it's free range from there on out -w-

Today's the day, Ralla thought with as much foreboding and sadness as there was anxiety wrapt in her heart. She had given J'adore permission to make use of her hut along with Saphrina in her absence, as well as express permission for him to tend directly to the fire because of the Chief's injury. She would leave its care in his and Oceane's hands until either she returned or their chief healed. With a lingering glance she looked around her hut--the dangling glass shards, the mismatched tapestries, the old hammock piled with blankets--and left before she could miss it too much.

She left the rung-ladder hanging after she left as an open invitation to the huts maybe-inhabiters, and went to the stables to bid goodbye to her equine friend. Maybe if she met others along the way she would say goodbye to them as well. She had already long ago asked permission of Chief Dawali for the departure and had alerted him to her pilgramige the night before once again. As to the awareness of the rest of the pack, she had maybe only told J'adore and Saphrina explicitly? She found her steadfast horse friend in the paddock--makeshift after the snowstorm and yet small due to lack of time to construct a larger one--and patted him affectionatly down his neck and along his snout. In his low speech he asked where she was going, although she only replied that she would return. Not understanding just how long she would be gone, Ralla left Sugar without much worry bothering the gelding. She shouldered her pack containing the essential supplies before she began to head to the center of the village where she would meet Kemo and pay her final respects to the Great Fire.

It was at the Great Fire where she felt a vision stir within her bones and eyes; the smoke almost seemed to burn the images into her vision, although normally it was just the ash and wayward embers. In the fire there were flowers--hundreds of flowers, just like the ones she had described for Range not two moons ago--in a field with little things flying around (supposedly butterflies or fireflies or birds). A great wind swept through, disturbing the image, but it returned for a moment--strong and vivid--before disappearing, signalling the end of the vision. Such a sight reminded Ralla of what would be awaiting them when they returned; her home in the full throes of spring. What a sight it will be... Her first spring in AniWaya, although she would not see its direct birth, would be no less glorious in its fantasy. It was there at the fire where she awaited her travel companion and any who would perhaps see her off.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.

OH GOD, SAPHRINA! <:O Kemo! Get the blankets! X<

She smiled at Kemo's approach. He always seemed so cheerful and sure of himself, never really complaining about the situations he was placed in or about others. For this she was grateful, mostly because her own hands were tied in a thousand different directions. His were, too, since he had graciously helped to rebuild AniWaya, even though it had not been long nor had it been his home for more than a few weeks. It would do them both good if she told him so, every so often, how much she appreciated his patience. She said as much as he came to embrace her, the action having no less an effect of pleasant embarassment to her nerves.

"Very. Ayasha and Saphrina worry me more, as well as the fire. I trust J'adore with the fire, but coupled with the children..." As if on cue, the panting of breath was heard, filling the air, and making Ralla veer her head around to see its source. Very soon a very drenched, very pathetic-looking pup was at her feet, looking up at her through her good eye and whining pitifully. Ralla's stomach dropped about three feet when she saw Saphrina in such a state, comelling her to drop from Kemo's arms to take Saphrina in her arms, standing to face Kemo and get as much body heat to the girl as possible without crushing her. "Saphrina! What were you thinking playing over there!?" She looked up to Kemo, and, although he couldn't see, she used one arm to take his hand and lead her to the Town Hall where it was warm and safe. She was angry at the pup, although she really couldn't be because she was a pup. Instead she was scornful, although she didn't say much as she merely weant about doing what was necessary.

Plopping Saphrina squarely on her usual cot next to Kemo, she pleaded with him to sit still as she weant about frantically. Being so small, Saphrina was so prone to sickness and cold; what had possessed her to be near such a cold place in the dead of winter? But perhaps that wasn't her fault; she maybe hadn't known before about just how could the water could be. At the very least she knew after the fact, which would hopefully teach her to be more careful. Such life experiences were important. Ralla found a whole mound of blankets that she wrapped around the pup, making her look more like a hill with eyes, and rubbed gently but firmly. Upon closer inspection--which relieved Ralla immensly--the clumps of fur that had flown off earlier were just from the areas around the scar tissue; normal, since her fur was trying to grow around the maimed flesh, but hurried along from the shock of water. "Is that better, Saphrina?" For a longer time she spent trying to warm the child up, the hearth fire glowing within the insulated building. "I'm sorry about that, Kemo. Saphrina needed help quickly, and I feel like I should find Chief Dawali, since I don't know medicine..." The ramble went on, enduced by the surprise scare. Mayhap Ralla had overreacted and was still doing so, but she didn't want to take any chances and leave Saphrina in such a state. But...we have to... That course of thought was a running train that kept going; moral versus ethical, emotions versus logic, etc.

Moon walks. "Moon talks." Moon thinks.