The afternoon sun painted the snow-capped mountains in the distance with a bright gleam. Night would steal the land soon in these short winter days.

Her heart quickened with anticipation and alert as she crossed further into the lands that opened up before her. The sands of the bridge that lead her to this place had all but dissipated under the guise of winter. All around her the familiarity of natural vegetation was cloaked in the white substance she had seen only once before in her life. The blanket of wintertide was thin and soft, each flake infinitely various yet repetitious and beautiful. A dusting of the season over the entrance to the land. Morrowind couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as she crossed the threshold into the outlandish realm. Coupled with that was the paranoia of what ruin she left in her wake and how quickly that ruin could catch up to her. How quickly he could find them.

Normally she would've thought herself thrilled to see this season's phenomenon again. The power and beauty that nature could create. Not on this day, however. She was exhausted, hungry and cold. Her daughter was clutched firmly in her jaws to give her small legs a break. Traveling with a babe as young as she was much more difficult than she could have ever imagined. Especially at the great lengths she went to in order to put as much distance between her and the feywild as she could.

Even if every step that took her further form her home broke her heart and her spirit. But her light would not dull forever.

It was all for her. Everything she would ever do in this life would be for @Everly. No matter the difficulty that could lay in the choices before her. There was respite in the fact that the young girl would be too young to remember much of their leave; at least the reasonings for it were beyond her comprehension. Morrow would maintain the façade to keep her feeling safe and protected — because she was.

She walked along the edges of the mountain shadow that cast its mighty form over the flats below. The peaks were far more covered in snow than where they tread. A chill nipped at her shoulders, her thin coat less than ideal for this type of climate. Though, she felt fortunate at the very least that it wasn't as unforgiving as the higher elevations appeared to be. Morrowind paused and lowered the princess child to the ground on a patch of grass that held no snow. This was to give her the opportunity to navigate this on her own terms instead of simply planting her in the powder without consent.

Here she would hope to take a break with her daughter and let her see the snow for the first time in her life; curious to her thoughts on it. Tenderness veiled her weary eyes and forlorn expression, lowering herself to lay on her stomach beside the girl. A warm, encouraging purr reverberated within her, leaning in to nuzzle the base of her ears.

— lily of the valley

    The winter winds pinched at her flesh, a cold she had never known before; though, her life was short and there was still much to be discovered. At the moment though, safe within her mother's grasp, Everly curled in her limbs as tightly as she could, ears pinned against her head. She had decided this chill was not for her. She wanted to go back home, back to wherever they had come from. Though she had only graced this plane of existence for a few months, @Morrowind had done a marvelous job of sheltering her from the pain of their life, from the truth, really. So for Everly, she did not understand why they left their warm home. She did not understand why she now hung from her mother's maw to freeze.

    Placed to solid ground, Everly shivered, sitting just as she had been settled. She looked like a statue, all but her nostrils, which flared wildly, and her wide eyes that she blinked rapidly toward the bright snow. With a small tilt of her head, the cub rose unsteadily to her paws, shooting her mother a glance for reassurance, before taking a few steps forward onto the snow cloaked terrain. Everly stared down at her paws, which seemingly had disappeared and gave a sharp squeak. She bounced backward onto the grass, the fur along her back elevated. Immediately, she looked to her feet. To her utter surprise, they had returned to her. She seemed, at least to her, unharmed, which was confusing having she nearly just lost all four paws, possibly her legs, possibly her life.

    Everly snorted, extending, then retracting her claws before striding forward again, this time with more confidence. She went a little farther this time, her paws disappearing once more. Her eyes narrowed and it was clear her brain was working overtime. What was this witchcraft? The girl lifted her front right paw, studying it intensely. It was cold, very cold, but otherwise, still where it was supposed to be. Things started clicking in her mind, but she cycled through the other three paws just to be certain. After a moment of clarity, she smiled, turning back to look at her mother. While she was definitely not a fan of the cold, this was rather fun. Everly bounce, sinking her face into the snow; however, she regretted that instantly. It was freezing, almost painful. She reared back with a hiss, losing balance and toppling backward, sending flurries sparkling through the air.

    Curse her legs, they were always failing her. Rolling to her side with a huff, she batted at the snow, quickly moving on from her previous stumble. The snow was fun again, but it seemed like a theme she would go back and forth on a lot. Eventually, the cub was back on her feet and marching, kicking up powder as she went until she fixed her attention to Morrowind. "Cold," she said with a sniffle, shuffling to rub smoothly against her mother's forelimb. She wasn't sure where they were going or why, she didn't love the bitter air, but as long as they were together, Everly could find a way to be happy.

— the songbird

Morrow watched in blissful silence as her daughter navigated the snow on her own. The relationship seemed to falter and renew time and time again. From beyond where she played, the young mother chuckled and placed her rear in the snow. To watch something so innocent and unmarred by the cruel and unforgiving wild world brought a light in the face of their unknown future. While @Everly my not come to realize it, Morrow would be saying silent vows to her. The uncertainty masked behind a soft gaze as the young feychild returned to her.

She lifted the leg that she leaned on, curling it around her and bringing her in close. A warm tongue would lap against the top of her head before simply resting her nose at the point of her skull. For a fleeting moment she reveled in how small she was, clinging to the present for she knew in the blink of an eye she would be all grown up. Even just these few months seemed to fly by too fast.

"I know," she answered her softly, her words almost mumbled by their closeness to her head, "But it doesn't stay like this for long." Morrowind began to explain, raising her head to look upon the wintery lands afore them. "Nature is resting now. Soon the snow will melt and make way for new life. New flowers and animals."

— lily of the valley

    Embraced by her mother, Everly giggle, accepting the lap on her head and light pressure of @Morrowind's nose with a thoughtful smile. She listened to her mother's words, trying to make sense and understand just how the world around her worked and could change so drastically. She thumped her tail enthusiastically against the terrain at just the thought. Of course, Everly knew not of fresh blooms and warm summer days, but she did know what it meant to not be cold and for that, she looked forward to it.

    Her attention drifted, seeping out across the landscape, which was in full view. Her eyes were large and round, filled with an innocent wonder; though, she did not leave Morrowind's hold on her, light and tender as it was, simply enjoying their closeness. "Where we go?" she asked softly, eyes still fixated on the vast, panoramic scene before her. Everly couldn't fathom the world was so big. She did not understand how there could be so much.

    Confused as she was with them leaving their homeland, Everly hadn't truly experienced much of her birthplace, so missing it would not linger for long in her young mind. In fact, with age, she may forget it entirely, possibly remember small bits and pieces that would flash and flicker in her memory like a dying flame. No, what was to come was her new life. Wherever they were now, this was her home, where she would grow and learn.

— the songbird

She tilted her head back down to gently nose @Everly's head as the young girl wondered where they were going. She hummed quietly, warmth of her breath seeping against her fur. "We're going on an adventure, Dewdrop." Morrowind stood up and released her hold on her daughter, stepping over her to move forward.

There was a heavy pit reeling within her gut as she looked out into the world unknown to them. She was uncertain, and quite frankly, afraid. Her duty was bound to her daughter and making sure she would be able to grow up in a good home. She may never be able to see the feywild like she was supposed to, but Morrowind would do everything in her power to give her the closest experiences she could possibly have. And who knows, perhaps within these lands are places equivalent.

Looking down towards Everly, she nodded and beckoned her onwards. "Come on, let's find somewhere to sleep before it gets dark." she urged softly, knowing she would likely have to start carrying the little cub again if her feet got too cold. exit.

— lily of the valley