[S] Like Waves in the River

[Minsuil]

Riptide rolled over in her sleep. The ground beneath her was dry, but lumpy. Though the seaside had been rough in many ways she could never complain of sleeping among the dunes. She had spent months in the swamp, months wandering. When Breakwater and her first left, they'd followed a river up into the heart of the swamp. They saw the fabled Ghost Thistle Mound, they found the mangroves, and the swamps, and the rivers. Finally their travels had found them in the lands of Clan Westfen. She did not know if it was because she missed the structure of a clan, or if she'd simply missed others - because Breakwater was more a part of Riptide than anyone else, really - but she felt at home. The clan had accepted them into their ranks and Riptide fell easily into the rhythm of life in the swamp.

Home. Westfen. Westfen was a much as a home as she ever had. Except, except the Tidewalkers were no longer home. Bitterleaf had sent them out, had ordered them to leave the beach. Riptide did not mean to return.

Breakwater did not mean to stay. She had left the western lands three days past to go back to the sea.

Her sister was not here anymore.
Her sister was not here anymore.
Breakwater was, she was gone.

How could Riptide call anywhere home if Breakwater was not there? She spent the first day angry, the second sullen, and the third still. Riptide had sat down and stared into the horizon. She took no food, and drank no water. Even Feverfew had come to check in on her. Yet that didn't change anything. It didn't change the fact that Breakwater was gone - and that felt like a piece of Riptide was gone.

Even surrounded by the tribe, she felt alone. The tribe wasn't her's yet either. She had been accepted as an apprentice but Riptide longed for acceptance. She wanted to protect, to hunt and live together. She didn't want to be taken care of any longer. When she thought about it, a well of bitterness sprang to her throat. Riptide felt. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt. She stared into the darkness.

What was the point of staying, she wondered, if it meant losing Breakwater?

Watermark nuzzled against her cheek. She turned over and looked at her wolf.

"You're right," she said in an exhale, "I'm not alone."

I just feel like it.
 

[Minsuil]

To tell the truth, she had meant to run away when she left the Westfen lands. Not back to the ocean, but certainly somewhere far, far away. But now, after a few weeks out in the open she was tired. Tired and weary. And dirty. And alone. Watermark had run off on her a week ago - perhaps tired of being stuck with Riptide? The doe didn't know.

The she-wolf led her to a small den, and there, Riptide understood. In the ferns were three pups, each a different color, each curled up and sleeping. They were still young, barely a week maybe. Her wolf hadn't abandoned her.

The thought made her feel light.

Watermark didn't leave me, she only wanted to be alone for a little bit.

She smiled at Watermark.

"Let's go home."

And she meant it. The wolf seemed to agree with her. Home, Riptide thought. Images of Westfen filled her mind. She would return home now with the pups in tow. Hopefully it would be enough for her Pilgrimage. Hopefully Flame of the West would forgive her for running out. But first, meat for the pups.