a paw prods her side, and then the light filters in through her eyelids and she rises sharply to her feet, all tangled limbs and matted fur. blue eyes dart wildly until they land on the boy in front of her, and she curls her lip— not a threat, not entirely. fear. he is sun eater's boy, in body and in strength and perhaps in spirit, too.

"stay away." but she cannot hide the waver in her voice, the falter in her step. without blackfell to guide her she is lost. and alone with this boy? she is as good as dead.

she takes care to guard her hind, leaving him no access to the wound at her neck. it has healed into a gnarled scar now, and only tufts of wiry fur remain. her posture remains rigid, a blade mere seconds from striking, but ghelan does not lunge for her. he only stares, confused.

"stay back." she warns again, less certain this time. perhaps sun eater has died and taken the dreaded war with him. perhaps it is all over. wishful thinking. his face holds no grief for the loss of a father, only a wartorn sadness she cannot begin to place.

"ghelan," she speaks his name, and there is no warmth.

"i will not return to saatsine." a promise. a plea. do not make me go.