The cuts on her face where still scabbed but slowly starting to heal. It was lucky she had taken some time to learn the basics of healing, enough to keep her face and shoulders from getting infected. Though now she had an entirely different task. The young woman felt as though she needed to completely vanish off the earth. Her opposition to the newly risen king was not one to be taken lightly. Any ruler would seek to rid themselves of someone who might try to overthrow them. Considering what he had done to Aithne, Pine had no doubt he would try to rid the world of her by soaking the soil with blood.

The scent of the moors were strong on her. Part of her hoped they always would be, her loyalty to her home ran bone deep. She was sure when she had been bled the water of Iromar had seeped from her veins. Her teeth bared now as she slipped through the shadows of the crags. She would not be reduced to these shadows. She would not be a disappointment to the Empress who led her, or the Big Wolf who raised her. She would bring back the glory and honor that had once thrived in the marshlands!

As she rolled in the mud she shivered as her vibrant whites and tans turned to brown. The gray of her body became dusted and muted. As a whole in her body she was becoming unrecognizable. It stung that she could not be who she was. When she had first been lost she did not know who she was, and her family was nothing. She had grown and fought for something, created her own identity and now it had been taken away. She got to her paws, mud dripping off her with soft ‘thumps’ onto the rocky ground. She would have to change her name, too, if she could not be found. Cenna… he had called her something....

Pine! The young wolfess nearly jumped out of her pelt, as well as the muddy costume she had put on. She spun in a flurry, fearful for a second only to have the fear turn to glee when she saw her friend. In the hidden of the crags she let her guard down with Samus. The joy of seeing her friend washed away the inner soil that dirtied her mind. Under the mud and the grime her face brightened and she jumped into a play bow, the tip of her tail swaying through the air. Samus! It is good to see you! She leapt forward and nudged the girl’s shoulder in greeting. As she pulled away reality hit her again. The smile faded and her tail drooped. But uh… don’t call me by my name. I think if someone found out I was here they would try to get me. The tips of her ears seemed to droop and her head ducked. I don’t want them to hurt you either, if they know you know me…