It was still an effort for Inanna not to keep tackling Abel over and over. She was so excited to see someone from home. It was the boy’s calm reserve, but continuing cheerful smile and outlook that kept her grinning as well. She laughed at his assertion. “They are! Lazy and useless.” She tried to put a brave face on at this comment. It hurt that her parents had not looked as hard for her as her friends, and that the wolf who rescued her had vanished without a trace. Her ears flattened for a moment in quiet confused reflection. If she stayed on the thought for too long she could feel her happiness start to fade. She did not want to think about why the adults had been leaving her alone. Youth granted her the innocence and naivety towards the workings of the adult world. The cruelty of things grabbing the attention of adults, stealing them from their children. Or, in her case, chasing her away from her path with her parents.

The young girl shook her head, banishing the thoughts. Her parents would have kept searching for her if the winter had not been harsh. Zeus would have come back if… ...if whatever had kept him away had not happened. Instead she forced a smile at Abel. With a quick glance around the cave her tail gave a small quiver. She would miss the cave. The memory of the storms still fresh in her mind though the winter had tried to erase the wonder. Clinging to the sights and sounds of thunder crashing, she had shivered away the long hours and the long days in this cave. Now it held mixed feelings for her and all off the sudden she was in a rush to leave it, though her heart broke at the thought.

“No…” She said sadly, her voice a shadowed glimpse of what she may become. Quieter, a touch more thoughtful. “I want to go home. But, maybe slowly?” Now she grinned. “So I can learn my way, and smell the spring! It has gotten musty in here.” Musty and lonely. It would be nice to just walk with a friend.