It is like the wind picks me up and carries me home for I am fleeter than I have ever been before. Even though I have lost a considerable amount of weight - and I hadn't been big to begin with - and my body seems to sag from hunger and exhaustion and the weight of the milk that my child craves, I am on cloud nine. Exodus had offered to hunt for me. He had been a kind wolf and handsome too, although I think that shouldn't matter. It does. Carnifex is nestled in my heart, a bitter throne I was sure that would bleed me until the day I died, but he was gone and I had to figure out how to take care of me and my daughter. To think, I hadn't wanted a child now I would die to protect her, the piece of me that was born from a shared love. I regret that the weeks of pregnancy had been fraught with tension. That me and my beast had grown apart because we both wondered if she was the product of my assault. Our time of happiness at her birth had been altogether too short and he was dead now, gone to avenge my honor only to be cut down in battle.

I had told Myrria but I wasn't sure if she understood. Daddy was not coming back. Daddy was dead because he was foolish and I hated him for leaving us just as much as I loved him and ached for his return. But I had waited too long to care for us properly, giving all of myself to her until there is very little left, and I think fate saw fit to send Exodus to me. How strange that I should find his kindness attractive considering what I had been drawn to in the past. I half feared that once he realized I really WAS a weak wolf that he would scorn me.

My body is weak and I stumble a few times in my hurry, my worry that something had gotten hold of my daughter growing with each moment and drowning out the happiness that a meal was coming. By the time I see the slit in the cave I am panting in fear, my heart pounding and threatening to burst through the cage of my chest. I race in, my bony hip slamming into the side of the stone wall. Pain ricochets through me and I cry out, eyes watering, but I am desperate to see her. Then I do, my Myrria, so small like me and innocent and I rush to her. Immediately I dip my nose into her, sniffing her thoroughly and then I begin to groom her. I can't help it because it comforts me, each brush of my tongue against her warm, soft body. "Thank you for not leaving," I say to her because I had warned her not to leave the cavern while I was out searching for food.

I couldn't train her on meat yet because my belly was empty. There would be no regurgitating until Exodus brought me something so I lay down and curl around her, opening my belly if she is hungry. "I met someone," I say, not sure if Myrria will even understand exactly what I mean by that or listen. "He is going to bring me food and some for you too," I say, a sigh following my words in a wistful manner as my tail strikes the hard floor and my hip aches from the bruise that would no doubt remain for a while. "I don't know why he is so nice." Talking to her and the empty cavern seemed the right thing to do but I can't sit still for long and if she hasn't finished drinking then she would have to because I pushed myself up and padded towards the entrance, peeking out with ears pricked to look for him.