It is seldom that I rest and yet, tonight I take such a liberty. I coil up in the darkness of my hollow, its entrance devoid of snow and barren with winter's stranglehold. The night's have begun to shorten once more and I cannot help but eagerly await the spring; it seems I am never at a loss of things that need tending to. The winter had taken Natu and I am yet to find she and her mate's final resting place, assured that they had returned to Spirane or Taviora. I best stay close to their children I suppose; already, their youngest have dispersed. It cannot be helped. I imagine there are some that cannot accept death so easily and choose to run away from its inevitability. My mother would die some day, just as my father had and yet, I shan't run away from it.

I am awoken from my half-hearted sleep though. There is a rush of paws and hagged, rough breaths; they tear passed my den's entrance with fevered haste. My ears twitch and soon, my nose catches the familiar scent of Eyiheh in the still air. She has always reeked like her mother. Like Achlys. Like some ghost on the shore, spectral and passive and so, I am brought to immediate attention by her sudden... peculiarities. They awaken me instantly, forcing me to unfurl as I slip from the darkness of my home.

At first, I begin to pace after her; my steps are slow and even, my jaws parting in a wide yawn as I feel the winter air seep into my fur. I release a short bark, my ears forward and yet, she does not stop. In fact, I hear her paws ahead of me begin to face, suddenly faster it seems. This alone makes my eyes narrow in concern, my hackles prickling as I begin to take chase. I widen my gait, my ears cupping forward as I begin the hunt; I do not trust this sudden haste at all. It is unlike her and so, it is a threat. It is only a minor comfort that her scent is alone - had she been followed, I cannot say that I would take to the fact peacefully. Though I do not spend much time with my children, it does not mean that I am not prepared to ensure they have the best chance at survival and prosperity. Sometimes, that might mean shedding a little blood.

I begin to see her pale outline ahead of me; its arrival makes me surge forward, my chest heaving with deep, cold breaths. I release a single bark once more, this time more commanding as I wheel closer to her. My tail arcs, eyes wide and intense as I see the desperation on her face. If she does not take it upon herself to stop then I shall be the one to stop her. I am aware now, after all, that this is no ordinary run in the dark.