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[Phox]

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The words that passed between Cael and Phodine were still fresh in her imprintable, young mind. She hadn't really understood what they'd meant — words like "abandonment" made little sense to a puppy who barely knew the difference between her mother and the tree nearby — but when her wide, dark eyes had watched their backs turn on her everything clicked into place. Something told Phox they wouldn't be coming back: not now, not ever. For several hours the 4 month old had staid supine on the floor, clinging to one last hope. But they hadn't turned back and that was when she knew it was over. She had exhaled slowly, a wordless resignation that was so heavy with grief it belonged to a wolf twice her age. That's that, she seemed to say.

Her tawny body lay curled around a tree trunk, eyelids closed tight over her glacial violet eyes. To Phox, blocking out these memories seemed only attainable by shutting out daylight and pretending like nothing of the sort had ever happened. She sighed into the soft, baby fur of her chest as she tried to leap desperately back into the realm of sleep. No, it was worthless. Just like everything else.

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[Deuce Rhiannon]

The pale woman was out walking. She was due soon, in her heart she knew it. It was a little too early, but she would be okay. She'd been praying to her goddess, and was sure she'd be fine. The knife at her hip reminded her that promises made lasted forever, and the goddess Rhiannon had promised her- something. She wasn't sure yet, but Rhiannon had promised her something.

She watched the land around. For a moment, the pup seemed to be part of the landscape, but then it sighed, and her ears pricked. She wasn't the greatest mother, but that didn't mean she didn't have motherly instincts. She moved forward slowly. Then again, slow movement was all she could manage with her bulging belly and healing leg fracture.

Mismatched eyes were friendly, though they held something deeply sad. Hello there?

[Phox]

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The voice caused Phox to lift her head slightly and regard the female with glacial eyes still clouded with sleep. She was pretty, but a stranger nonetheless. A long time ago, someone had told her not to talk to strangers. That very same someone, however, had also turned her back on Phox a week ago. An ear cupped forwards to catch this pale wolf's words, sparse as they were. Then, without a moment's hesitation, she responded in a voice that sounded like it belonged to a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz rather than a speckled Mexican puppy. "Heho der," she mimicked, smiling bashfully simultaneously.

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[Deuce Rhiannon]

Deuce knelt by the pup, her bi-colored eyes studying the child. I'm Deuce, who are you? Do you live around here? By her guess, the pup was about four months. About the age Dierdre was when Deuce had been forced to leave Syemv so many years ago. The pup's smile was infectious, and Deuce smiled back, her heart melting with adoration for the young pup.

[Phox]

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"Doose," she repeated, forming the slightly misinterpreted name into a perfect 'o' shape with her mouth. "Name's Phox, yeah." Violet eyes moved away from the bi-colored pair staring down at her and instead alighted on a pair of birds playing a game of what looked like hopscotch on a nearby branch. When Deuce inquired as to whether or not she lived around here, the puppy paused. Did it count as living somewhere when you'd only just arrived? Of course, this complex of a reasoning wasn't going through the female's mind, but she still didn't really know how to respond to the question. "'n here. Daded Sha-dows."

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[Deuce Rhiannon]

Doose. to rhyme with goose. Her heart melted a little more, and her smile widened. Yes, Deuce. And i live here in Jaded Shadows, too. She followed her gaze to the birds. Deuce laughed softly. My son shadow liked birds too. he used to chase them. Do you chase birds, Phox? It was the first time she'd spoken of Shadow without pain since the boy had died.

But it didn't mean she missed him any less.