Hello and Goodbye.

When she woke up, Snowskip could not smell her mama or the familiar feel of her littermates sleeping beside. Rather then the usual grey cave that she was growing up in, she sat up, surrounded by various trees. She could smell the fresh air, and the heat that was getting to her thick coat. It was such an unusual place she thought, and how her family would love it! Though sadly for herself, she would not last long within these forests.

She didn't realize how long it had been since the small child had seen her parents, much less her siblings. Every day she waited for their return, and slowly did time pass, and Snowskip grow weaker each day. As she bounded through these strange lands, her foosteps grew slower and slower, and she felt heavy. Eyelids drooped, and she could've sworn she saw the familiar white pelt of her Papa - yet, there was nothing. 

Bones and nothing more, Snowskip took a final breathe, and fell to the forest floor.

the staff team luvs u

^^

With @Hotaru healing, Reiko was off to find some herbs to ease her pain, to help let her body fight the possible venom that caused her such anguish by offering some form of respite. Leaving @Izumi to watch over her while the mother not only went to seek out medicinal herbs, she also naturally kept her eyes out for @Haruki should he too be wandering nearby. He was still missing and she was certain he couldn't be too far away from his sister... Reiko hoped that was the case at least.

They were almost united now, so close yet so far as not even a scent of the prince could be smelled around just yet. And yet, with Hotaru now with her again, she held on to hope now more than ever.

After gathering some herbs to help aid in pain management as well as the swelling, Reiko was returning to her daughter and impromptu caregiver's side when a sudden flash of white caught her attention. Her heart stopped for a moment as the world stopped to a standstill. Was that Haruki? Could it be him?

Hastily she ran to the pale figure, they were smaller than Hotaru... so much so. It reminded Reiko of when they were much younger, still den bound and too young for the world, and yet this one... was alone, nor was it her little prince. Walking up to the figure, she nudged the still warm but lifeless body, her heart dropping as a sickening feeling bubbled up in her throat. She wanted to be sick, she wanted to cry for this babe that she knew nothing about. She wept for what it reminded of what could have been with her own children and how awful it was to see someone so young, so innocent and pure fall to the horrible truth that was of this new world.

How cruel could it be to leave someone so young all on their own like this?

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda wasn’t entirely sure where she was, or really how she had gotten there. After chasing one of her traitorous peons through her business land, she had entered into this new world. Without her newfound family of loyal followers, she wasn’t entirely sure what to do. So she had walked - for a day and a night. There was no sign of any packs or groups she was familiar with. So she kept going.

As the tall woman padded through the forest, it was not too hard to miss the little bundle of white fluff. As Griselda watched, debating on if she should step out and try to help the tiny creature, another wolf came to it. The tan girl was able to make out the white she-wolf’s face and could tell that while they were upset by the presence of the pup, they were not upset enough that Griselda felt they were the parent.

“Nicest thing ya can do fer it now is gives it a proper burial.” Griselda spoke in a rather neutral tone, but there was a hint of soft sadness to her. Anyone would be sad to look down on such a tiny dead body. While she rebelled against a lot her father had taught her, she still hung close to treating children kindly and with respect. The least the two she-wolves could do for this little fellow was make sure they were buried.

the staff team luvs u

^^

She wept for the child on silent tears. Warmth streamed down her cheeks as she was left with an emptiness she couldn't figure out how to deal with yet. She was too young for such sights, too inexperienced for to carry the grief of a mother who did not birth this little one. With a tender paw, she brought the small figure closer to her as she wiggled closer to it.

“I will name you Kagome, little lost one. I am sorry I have failed you.” She whispered into the now deaf ear. There was no way to know their name now in order to mourn them properly, and so, she did the next best thing and gave them a name to remember them by. Apologetic for the late arrival of someone who might have saved them, who might have given them a fighting chance to survive... and she failed them, she failed Kagome by being tardy.

The sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention, lifting her gaze to the woman approaching who had offered to give it a proper burial. She was not wrong, and Reiko already knew that. “I will, in time.” Cerulean eyes fell to the little figure now clutched against her by her own paws. All she wanted to do was mourn the little girl for a while longer before burying her.

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda wouldn’t bother the white she-wolf too much about the burial. Obviously, the girl was very affected by seeing a dead pup. All the tan wolf could think of was that it was a shame. It should be alive, but it wasn’t. It was sad, yes, but Griselda felt a disconnection from it all. But she was not one to get in the way of someone’s grieving.

“I can start on it.” She said softly and walked about twenty feet away until she found a sturdy tree. The roots were long, knotting together in some places. Limbs reached towards the sky, and squirrels and birds flew away as the wolf looked up. It was a living tree, with many creatures using it throughout their lives. It felt fitting to lay a pup to rest under such an active spot - as if the ghost would be able to watch the wildlife.

She glanced at the stranger, making sure she was well enough and then started to dig into the dirt. It wouldn’t need to be too deep, she realized with a hint of sadness. There was the concern of anyone else coming across the body, and she didn’t want anyone to get to it. Griselda would silently dig a hole deep enough, with her eyes flicking back to watch the white she-wolf. Together they could let the little one rest peacefully.

the staff team luvs u

^^

Kagome, the lost girl. Reiko could only hope she would find her way home from here, now that she was no longer tethered to the new world she found herself in. To run home to her own mother and watch over her as she weeps over the loss of her child, never knowing what had happened to them.

“Thank you.” She muttered softly in a breath, barely thinking of what the other woman had offered and the meaning behind it. Start on it, start the burial. A hole. She could hear the woman begin to dig somewhere as her own cerulean eyes focussed on the little body she held close to her. Still warm even if it was slowly fading, their little body growing stiff as their heart stopped beating a while ago.

Eventually, as the other woman did all the work, thankfully, as it was hard enough to see someone so young who reminded her of her own children and such as task would be simply too much for her too soon; tenderly she picked the child up. Gingerly holding it by the scruff even if its stiffening limbs made it harder to do than a limp, traveling child. Thankfully rigor mortise hadn't completely settled in yet.

Making her way over to where the woman had chosen the place where the child would be buried, she waited until they were done before placing the body in the ground. Watching them a little while longer, mourning, she would probably take a while before beginning to bury if it was up to her.

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda was willing to do the work to bury the child. Each time she looked back at the white she-wolf, she could tell that the death had really shaken her up. There was always someone that needed to keep their emotions at bay, to keep their head level when emotions might be rising. Between the two, Griselda decided that she would be the one keeping her mind level and let the other grieve. She was okay with that.

The tan wolf stood back once she had finished the small hole, and watched silently as Reiko carried the pup to burial. The pup looked almost asleep as she was lowered into the grave, and Griselda truly felt her heartbeat in sadness at that moment. Putting a body in the grave was a true sign of death, and it even made the cold-hearted bitch depressed.

But she kept her level head. “Lil’ Kagome, right?” Griselda had overheard Reiko saying the name, and assumed it was the newly given name to the dead pup. When Reiko would confirm it, Griselda would step forward politely. “Lil’ baby girl Kagome; you were taken from the world too young. May the gods that watch over you light your path, and you can play and taste meat in a paradise. Your hard days are over, baby girl.” Griselda hoped that the world could be heard by the deceased, and bring some ease to Reiko.

the staff team luvs u

^^

“Yes —” She said quietly, fighting back sobs that choked her throat uncomfortably. “I thought a name made mourning them more appropriate.” As if she tried to justify her actions for naming the child that didn't belong to her.

Still, as the forest remained quiet, every little critter above and below silently weeping for the loss of such a young life. Reiko couldn't help but believe that any moment the guardian, parent, mother of the child would come around. Would it be for the better or worse to be seen burying their child, she was uncertain. Would they believe the story weaved by the women who found little Kagome?

Would Reiko believe it if she was their mother?

The woman eventually started a eulogy. It was short, classic, nothing too personal. Understandably so, neither of them knew anything about the child. “Her belly would be fat with honeyed milk in the world beyond.” She added.

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda showed her heart on her sleeve; she was open about her emotions. She wasn’t one to hold back how she felt. If Reiko looked at her face, properly read her, it would be obvious that she was not feeling the same sadness as her. Sure, she was upset, but she didn’t exactly feel that tightening of her throat, of the piercing of her eyes when tears tried to fall. But she was sad. It was all unfortunate to her.

Little Kagome, she figured, would appreciate someone naming her, even if it wasn’t their birth name. It showed that someone cared, even after they were gone. She hoped that somehow her face could be read with these complex emotions because she held her tongue. It wasn’t her place to get in the way of someone’s grieving. She didn’t move yet to bury the child, instead of waiting to make sure Reiko was ready, watching for an emotion on her face.

“The fattest pup - happiest and fullest ever seen.” It was probably a bad time to try and inject some humor, but she wanted to at least see one of those soft, sad smiles that someone had when usually thinking of something amusing of the deceased, even if there were no memories to bring up. If Reiko gave a small smile, Griselda would return it, before waiting patiently for some kind of permission to bury the child.

the staff team luvs u

^^

There was no need for her to look over at the other woman. Reiko's attention was on the small body that was now laying in the hole, looking like it was just peacefully asleep as opposed to the unthinkable truth. As if she could just scoop it up and bring her home with her to give a new life, or perhaps await for them to be found by the parents. But that was all a dream, a hope that what she was seeing was not the cruel reality of things.

She had faith that the other woman was just as broken by the scene, even if Reiko might be taking it harder than they were from an outsider's perspective. Never would she think someone heartless enough to not be hurt by the discovery and so she didn't bother to check, the silence both women offered was good enough to show respect for the child who was now in a permanent state of slumber.

With a nod she agreed to the statement, a soft smile finding its way to even her saddened lips. Just picturing a pup so fat that all she could do was sleep it away. Only now did she cast her eyes onto the warm coated woman, keeping that smile as she turned it to appreciation. A nod as a signal that it was time to go, to let the puppy rest and hopefully be left untouched by scavengers - she would wait until the ceremony came to a complete end. As much as she would have waited here all day, she had her own child to attend to that waited for medicine Reiko sought before this.

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda took the initiative and began to bury the child. Her golden eyes flicked at Reiko, wondering if she would watch. If she was, Griselda would actually stand somewhat in the way, making it so the other couldn’t see too much. It was already saddening enough to have a child dead, she didn’t need to see it being buried - it made everything too final, too hard to accept and be content with. Like if they stopped burying the body, one could reach in and grab them away from death.

When she was done, she would gently pat the ground. The last thing she wanted was for another creature to easily dig up the grave for a snack. The tan woman walked away for a few moments, disappearing among the trees. Then she would reappear, with colorful mismatched flowers. She had never been one for decoration, how things should be set up. The collection wasn’t pretty, not exactly, but she had chosen colors that felt happy.

Gently, she placed the flowers over the grave, nosing them about to keep the centers facing upwards. “She’ll be restin’ easy now.” This time the words felt for herself. This would probably haunt her dreams at night, but she would never admit that it made her feel such things. “You okay?” Griselda asked gently, looking down at the grave.

the staff team luvs u

^^

For a moment she did watch as the child was being buried, the sight was indeed hard even if the other woman had tried to put herself in between the child and the woman who was watching. Snapping out of the grim thoughts, Reiko figured she could do something more productive while the other woman busied herself with the burial. Leaving the woman's side while she was occupied, Reiko looked for flowers as well among other pretty things to put on the grave. Great minds think alike she would soon realize.

A few early blossoms were found, gathered in a small bundle while a few colourful stones were found as well under the foliage. It was impromptu but it would do well as a marker regardless, better than nothing as if they were leaving the child to be forgotten. No, it would be decorated and perhaps the stones would remain long enough for Reiko to find later should she travel here again to remind herself to mourn the loss child in memory.

With a few stones balanced on her tongue and careful to not choke on them by accidentally swallowing them - and flowers clutched in her teeth, she'd return to the grave where the warm coated woman was no more. Perhaps she had wandered away now that the deed was done, which was okay. 

The pale woman placed her offering on the little grave, nudging the stones and flowers in a way that would be at least a little pleasing to the eye. Not too long after the other woman returned with her own offerings, and a smile was shared at the new colourful addition. Reiko nodded at her reassurance of the pup resting now. “I will be. She reminded me of my own children, which I must return to now that Kagome is properly resting. Thank you for your assistance, it made the task a lot easier.”

^^
the staff team luvs u

Griselda wasn’t sure where she was going to go from here. She had only just arrived to this new world, and she wasn’t sure what to do. Part of her wanted to gather some minions, be the leader of a Business like her father should have let her. Her thoughts were drifting, as she knew this weird interaction with Reiko was probably drawing to an end.

They both had thought of leaving something at the grave, and Griselda had come back to see Reiko settling flowers and stones on the ground. It all looked much more organized than what Griselda had brought, and she gave a soft, friendly, smile. She had tried her best, and hopefully, that was enough. The grave was somehow almost cute, but it felt wrong to think such a thing.

“You good to travel by yerself?” Reiko didn’t seem to exactly be the beefy, protector type. Sure, a mother could snap at someone, but she just seemed so fragile. Besides, Griselda had nothing else to do at that moment. Any planning she might have, it would come to mind later on, not while her golden eyes were looking on the grave of a pup.

the staff team luvs u

^^

Had Reiko known what Griselda was thinking, it would be hard to deny what she thought. The young woman was indeed not one to fight, but to run. Not quite something that was a protective type - though she would indeed try were it necessary for her children's sake. It was what a mother had to do after all wasn't it? Put her children first. Even if it was at the cost of her own breath.

How could she ever forgive herself to put her own safety first?

With a soft shake of her head, and a smile on her lips. “I do not travel alone. Not only do I have my daughter, but two others with me as well.” Neither of which are fighters she was certain, nor would she ask such a thing from them either. It was why she kept scouting ahead, or at least tried to. Finding the easiest paths, away from possible dangers lurking near by. 
 
“Are you?” Judging by the scent on the woman, she was travelling alone. Was she possibly offering with the desire to have some companionship for a while?

^^
the staff team luvs u

The thought of her family had barely escaped her mind since she had wandered into these strange lands. Her father, angry that his prized pet daughter and firstborn son had run away - although Griselda saw herself as going up the ladder, getting better than what her family could give her. She would never admit it, though, that she thought it would be nice to return to a comfy home, back with her brothers as they had all been together and happy.

“I left daddy’s business a while ‘go. I got some guys, but I don’t know what happen’ to them - or well, what happen’ to me.” They hadn’t abandoned her, she knew that enough. They had been loyal minions, ready for her call. Somehow she had gotten separated, and she was worlds away from them all. Griselda rolled her shoulders, trying to beat down any sorts of emotions that might come up.

“How far are you from your lil’ ones? I can at least walk ya home, make sure the lil’ babies get their momma safely.” It would give her some time to see the land and to think. It somehow made it easier having someone else around, as if it kept her mind steady. If she was by herself, she could feel too much, lose it all. But if she was with someone, the cool and calm she had to put on would become the truth.

the staff team luvs u