skipping rocks by the river by the railroad tracks

[Artemis Marino]

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The subject was probably a sore one for Liliana. Artemis, of all possible Dreamers, knew what it was like to constantly be reminded of something she didn't want to talk about. Her fall and Denali's death had been common topics in the pack and it had driven her crazy. Perhaps it was her subconscious being vindictive that drove her to press questions about the issues in the tribe on the wolfdog woman. It was unfair of her to do anything like that, the silver-painted girl decided. "I'm sorry," Artemis said then, her tone softer now than it had been before.

The puppies did not seem very affected by the conversation between the older female and the Dreamer. Once, she had been a careless puppy with no problems, but she did not know if she would have been willing to go back to such a time. Before her fall, before Denali's death, before the AniWayan raid, before Cypress' mysterious absence... Perhaps such a time was easier, but there was no going back. Artemis tossed another rock aimlessly into the water. Why was she even worrying about Cypress, anyway? He was probably fine, and what did it matter what he was doing?

"What do you like to do?" she asked, forcing her mind to switch topics now. There was no need to worry about her friend.