Something was off. She felt it in the air, a shift, subtle but undeniable. Something had changed.

Kirain’s ears pinned back, worry unfurling like smoke in her chest. Instinct tightened her muscles, urging her forward. She left their shared den in a rush, her gaze sweeping the world outside.

The forest stood in silent perfection. The trees, tall, unmoving. The flora, vibrant, untouched. Too perfect.

No. She didn’t trust it.

With a growing sense of unease, she pressed on toward the standing stones. They loomed as they always had: ancient, solemn, immovable. Still, her nerves bristled, the fur along her spine rising. Something was wrong.

She continued her patrol, weaving through familiar paths and watching everything—rocks, roots, even the other creatures of the Rise. Nothing stood out. Nothing explained the creeping dread curling in her gut.

And still, it grew.

Turning back toward the den, her steps quickened. Her eyes searched until she found her voice.

Lestan? she called, her tone edged with urgency.

If anyone could track down the source of this wrongness, it was him.
She hoped to the stars he could.

[like his mate, lestan had been tormented by the sentiment of foreboding. when kirain left the den, he too departed, moving in the opposite direction to span a second patrol over further terrain. he could see nothing amiss, but the air spoke in silence of unwanted change. the deer did not sing. the hares did not lope. he saw no lizards upon the sunwarmed face of the sacred stones, and he shivered. there was no rain, no wind. nothing. and he was made sickened by the change which seemed heavier with each second. looping back through the stones, he came upon his wife moments after her return, smoothing his cheek along her nape, her own face. everything is quiet. even the d-deer have n-not been grazing. his ears twitched, remembering the unchewed leaves where they usually found their breakfast, and he gazed at kirain in consternation. come on, he urged, a thought coming to him as muzzle sought the trails which led downward. if fauna had descended, they would know and they would find their gatherings, and the truth of what had shifted in their beloved land.]

like his mate, lestan had been tormented by the sentiment of foreboding. when kirain left the den, he too departed, moving in the opposite direction to span a second patrol over further terrain. he could see nothing amiss, but the air spoke in silence of unwanted change.
the deer did not sing. the hares did not lope. he saw no lizards upon the sunwarmed face of the sacred stones, and he shivered. there was no rain, no wind. nothing. and he was made sickened by the change which seemed heavier with each second.
looping back through the stones, he came upon his wife moments after her return, smoothing his cheek along her nape, her own face. everything is quiet. even the d-deer have n-not been grazing. his ears twitched, remembering the unchewed leaves where they usually found their breakfast, and he gazed at kirain in consternation.
come on, he urged, a thought coming to him as muzzle sought the trails which led downward. if fauna had descended, they would know and they would find their gatherings, and the truth of what had shifted in their beloved land.

She hadn’t thought it possible to feel more shaken than she already was, but her husband’s observations only deepened the fear beginning to take root in her heart. Gently, she brushed her cheek against his, seeking a fleeting moment of comfort. But they couldn’t just stand there. He seemed to have a plan, and so she followed, her steps quick and anxious.

What was happening? What was wrong?
The questions spiraled in her mind, urgent and unrelenting.

They descended in silence. Still, the world around them remained unnervingly quiet. Never had she hated the silence as much as she did now. This was their home—their sanctuary, their future. The thought of it being tainted, or worse, taken from them, was unbearable.

At last, they reached the river, the one that meandered through the mountains like a silver thread. So many memories lived here: splashing through the shallows, fishing, laughing, holding each other close beneath the sun. But now, standing at the bank, she scanned the familiar landscape and felt only unease. Nothing appeared out of place, yet everything was. The silence, the absence of birdsong or breeze, it was all wrong.

And still, she couldn’t name the reason why.

She glanced at her mate, searching his face for a different perspective. Maybe they were just being paranoid. But the tension in his eyes told her he felt it too. She worried her bottom lip, then murmured, This doesn’t feel right.

[kirain's energy was so tied to that of lestan he felt its electricity in his own body. dry-mouthed, the mayfair moved alongside his mate in bleak silence. the sounds of their forested world kept its quiet, and whenhis paws touched into the rich dark loam, he knew at once that something was amiss. it swayed him with deep nausea; his connection to the land sickening the druidwitch for a wild moment, but worse was the fact that nothing to his eye had changed. that the shift was unseen and therefore more volatile than he had expected. he made himself stride forward to test the water, to dip a paw and to taste with unerring confidence that he simply did not feel. immediately did the skin upon his palm tingle; at once did his tongue leap with a sour bitterness not unlike meat gone high and poisonous. he spat it deliberately and crowded back against kirain, seeking to push his wife back from the wormwood waters. it is ruined, he said in meandering wonder, eyes flickering up toward its source and then to her somber pale features. what had happened? he did not understand.]

kirain's energy was so tied to that of lestan he felt its electricity in his own body. dry-mouthed, the mayfair moved alongside his mate in bleak silence. the sounds of their forested world kept its quiet, and whenhis paws touched into the rich dark loam, he knew at once that something was amiss. it swayed him with deep nausea; his connection to the land sickening the druidwitch for a wild moment, but worse was the fact that nothing to his eye had changed.
that the shift was unseen and therefore more volatile than he had expected. he made himself stride forward to test the water, to dip a paw and to taste with unerring confidence that he simply did not feel. immediately did the skin upon his palm tingle; at once did his tongue leap with a sour bitterness not unlike meat gone high and poisonous.
he spat it deliberately and crowded back against kirain, seeking to push his wife back from the wormwood waters. it is ruined, he said in meandering wonder, eyes flickering up toward its source and then to her somber pale features.
what had happened?
he did not understand.

Ruined.

Never had a single word struck so deeply. The little white dame stood frozen, disbelieving. After everything they had endured… Her ears pinned back as Lestan gently guided her away from the water’s edge.

It can’t be ruined. This is our home, Lestan. I refuse.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the stream, its surface flowing calm and unchanged. How could it be ruined when everything looked the same? Nothing had happened. Right?

But doubt crept in, quiet and relentless. Had they caused this? Had their presence stained the land they loved?

No. She wouldn’t believe that. They had lived in harmony with the Rise—honoring its beauty, its ancient power. They belonged here, as much a part of the land as the sentry stones standing tall and silent.

Kirain shut her eyes, grounding herself in the moment, the dirt beneath her paws, the whisper of leaves overhead, the gentle press of life all around her. She inhaled deeply. The land felt wounded, violated. Not by them. Of that, she was sure. This pain came from elsewhere, an outside force.

A shiver of worry traced her spine. How far did it reach? What else had been touched by this taint?

She opened her eyes and turned to her mate.

How far do you think it’s spread? Her voice trembled with urgency. What should we do? We can’t stand idle. This isn’t just Druids’ Rise.

[lestan hated to see kirain so distraught. no. no. it will not be, he sought to reassure, kissing the soft snowdown cheeks beneath the threat of each quivering tear. as she sought grounding magick from the land itself, he glanced about and sniffed the water once more. once, wh-when i was learning to t-track, i discovered a soured st-stream like this. i followed, lestan said softly, falling back into memory, its source up into the m-mountains. i f-found more poisoned st-streams and creeks. eventually, he turned, glancing to kirain, i f-found a dead g-goat rotting high in a peak at the s-source of all the other water. in a flourish he gathered kirain's paw, kissed her crooked wrist. i w-will go. but i — my love, i do n-not want us b-both to go, the mayfair said softly. it is n-not my place to forbid you. but it is m-my wish. he loathed the idea of being parted, but further rot upriver might well sicken him. he did not wish for kirain to suffer the same; he loved her too much for that.]

lestan hated to see kirain so distraught. no. no. it will not be, he sought to reassure, kissing the soft snowdown cheeks beneath the threat of each quivering tear. as she sought grounding magick from the land itself, he glanced about and sniffed the water once more. once, wh-when i was learning to t-track, i discovered a soured st-stream like this. i followed, lestan said softly, falling back into memory, its source up into the m-mountains. i f-found more poisoned st-streams and creeks. eventually, he turned, glancing to kirain, i f-found a dead g-goat rotting high in a peak at the s-source of all the other water.
in a flourish he gathered kirain's paw, kissed her crooked wrist. i w-will go. but i — my love, i do n-not want us b-both to go, the mayfair said softly. it is n-not my place to forbid you. but it is m-my wish.
he loathed the idea of being parted, but further rot upriver might well sicken him. he did not wish for kirain to suffer the same; he loved her too much for that.

It took her a moment to process his words. Maybe… maybe it really was that simple? Something resolvable. Something that could be healed. The thought brought a flicker of comfort to the little dame.

But then—his next words.

He wanted to leave her. To disappear in search of answers on his own.

Her heart lurched.

Husband, how could you even suggest that? she exclaimed, voice tight with disbelief. What am I to do, sit here and hope things resolve? Bask in the silence and emptiness of the Rise?

She let out a soft, frustrated huff, her brow furrowing. The thought of more time spent alone made her chest ache.

I’ve done my time with being alone, Lestan. I won’t needlessly serve more.

Lifting the paw he had kissed, she reached up to caress his cheek, the gesture tender and full of resolve.

They could face this together. Heal their home as one. She would accept nothing less.

Wherever you may go, I shall follow, she whispered, her tone gentle but unwavering. I am not helpless, love. I’ve survived this long, haven’t I? And now I’ll have you by my side. We can keep each other safe.

Her voice softened further, wrapping around him like a balm. She didn’t want to fight. She didn’t want to worry him.

But she couldn’t let him go, not like this. Not alone.

[he should not have said it. lestan's ears wilted as kirain protested, but not in fear. she was correct, and he was truly relieved to hear it. she was not helpless. i should not have s-suggested it, he said soberly, moving to brush her cheek with his lips. never again. finding her eyes, lestan held them for a loving moment and then glanced north, where the waterway curved around high mountains. i s-suspect at least five days of walking, said the tracker in preparation. we sh-should eat first, if you c-can, lestan suggested. then we will s-set out. but now he hesitated, looked to her; if one of us should f-fall ill, we sh-should return. if we n-need to leave the rise for a t-time — it must be. it is still our own. and we are together. our l-love is here. he touched her face. we can come back. as much as he loved this land with all vital portions of himself, kirain's life mattered far more. he backed from the water, turned, and began to stride back toward their caches, already making mental note of the best meat they had collected and how long it might last if they took some to spare the energy of hunting. the mayfair was prepared in time, and looked into kirain's face once more, assessing for any fear or reservation his mate might possess.]

he should not have said it. lestan's ears wilted as kirain protested, but not in fear. she was correct, and he was truly relieved to hear it. she was not helpless. i should not have s-suggested it, he said soberly, moving to brush her cheek with his lips. never again. finding her eyes, lestan held them for a loving moment and then glanced north, where the waterway curved around high mountains. i s-suspect at least five days of walking, said the tracker in preparation. we sh-should eat first, if you c-can, lestan suggested. then we will s-set out.
but now he hesitated, looked to her; if one of us should f-fall ill, we sh-should return. if we n-need to leave the rise for a t-time — it must be. it is still our own. and we are together. our l-love is here. he touched her face. we can come back. as much as he loved this land with all vital portions of himself, kirain's life mattered far more.
he backed from the water, turned, and began to stride back toward their caches, already making mental note of the best meat they had collected and how long it might last if they took some to spare the energy of hunting.
the mayfair was prepared in time, and looked into kirain's face once more, assessing for any fear or reservation his mate might possess.

His words soothed the ache in her chest, and slowly, the weight of loneliness slipped from her shoulders. Lestan loved her—of that, she was certain. Everything he said and did was to protect her. How could she hold that against him?

As he spoke and planned, she nodded, ever trusting in her capable tracker.
If one of us falls ill, we turn back, she echoed Lestan’s words, making them a vow.
We’ll be okay. I believe in that. I believe in us.

When he walked away, her gaze drifted back to the water. She knew better. She truly did. But she had to know, to understand the danger, the truth of it. Stepping forward cautiously, she dipped a paw into the stream, only to recoil at the tingling sensation that shot up her leg.

Did she dare take a drink?

Instinct screamed no, but curiosity whispered yes. Leaning down, she let her tongue touch the surface, then jerked back, coughing as the bitter taste hit her throat. It was worse than she’d imagined.

Panic stirred—what if he saw? What if he realized what she’d done? She turned quickly from the water, hurrying to rejoin him.

When their eyes met, a flicker of guilt crossed hers. She had stepped outside his protection, driven by curiosity. But there was no fear in her heart, no hesitation. Only certainty.

I love you, she said softly. It was all that truly mattered.

Even if they could never return, she would be content, so long as he was by her side.
But they would return. She would see to it. Their home was worth fighting for.

[i love you. eternally. fiercely. now and forever. their future had started here and lestan mayfair meant to do what he could to protect both the rise and kirain. they headed up along the watercourse, keeping along a dry trail. he had not liked that she had tasted the river but said nothing. she was her own wolf, her own soul; lestan would not move to stop that. the land remained silent and almost horrendously devoid of life. once or twice he thought he might have seen a sparrow or an otter, only to turn and find himself mistaken. the longer the quiet grew, the more oppressive it became, and often he brushed his shoulder against that of kirain for reassurance. the tall stones grew small behind them. in time, from a small skin slung over shoulder, he offered her a woodpigeon haunch. but the witch himself had no appetite. he kept the water in sight, and here the ground grew rugged, hilly, sprawled with smaller trees and round boulders. lestan slowed. does anything feel different? to him, things had become quite the same.]

i love you. eternally. fiercely. now and forever. their future had started here and lestan mayfair meant to do what he could to protect both the rise and kirain. they headed up along the watercourse, keeping along a dry trail. he had not liked that she had tasted the river but said nothing. she was her own wolf, her own soul; lestan would not move to stop that.
the land remained silent and almost horrendously devoid of life. once or twice he thought he might have seen a sparrow or an otter, only to turn and find himself mistaken. the longer the quiet grew, the more oppressive it became, and often he brushed his shoulder against that of kirain for reassurance.
the tall stones grew small behind them.
in time, from a small skin slung over shoulder, he offered her a woodpigeon haunch. but the witch himself had no appetite. he kept the water in sight, and here the ground grew rugged, hilly, sprawled with smaller trees and round boulders. lestan slowed. does anything feel different?
to him, things had become quite the same.