All was right in the world. Or almost everything was right in the world. Ktulu and Ophelia were back on speaking terms after going seasons without seeing the other. Ktulu felt like the part of her soul that had broken off and drifted away had come back. She felt whole again. She felt peaceful. Couple that with the fact that she had secured a position as Captain of the World's Edge and was well on her way to making amends for her transgressions against them. There was, however, something amiss that she was having a hard time ignoring as time went on. Their parents were nowhere to be seen and had been missing since the Grey had taken over the Foothills some time ago. She couldn't and wouldn't forget the last time she had seen her father, walking away from her instead of congratulating her and Ophelia on their victory. She had been confused, thinking that he would have been proud to have raised two strong daughters.

A snort broke the silence that had enveloped the six of them. Six. Ophelia had surprised Ktulu by being in the presence of a stallion when they'd happened upon one another. Naturally, Ktulu didn't trust the stallion because she didn't know him or his companion. As they walked she would cast a glance in his direction, make sure he wasn't up to anything then she'd lose herself in her thoughts, reminiscing the Grey for a short time. Her memories took a turn away from the more recent events and she began to think about when she had been a crooked legged filly, leaning on Ophelia constantly for support. In more ways than one she owed her life to her sister because without her she would be nothing. The hardness of her face melted to tenderness as she looked at her pale sister. She would still do anything for her, she just wondered if Ophelia knew exactly how deep her loyalty ran. She wondered if her sister still felt that their relationship was fractured from foolish fighting and their combined stubbornness.

The Constrictor's head lifted as Tinek moved ahead of them in a manner that suggested that he had seen something they hadn't. Without waiting for her command, Eytan bounded ahead of the group. He could smell death in the air and as he happened upon the corpse he knew that the day was taking a turn for the worst. The grizzly turned and looked to his bonded, warning her against coming and even suggesting that she make the entire group turn back. Ktulu was stubborn and her step quickened as did Ophelia's.

She smelled her before she saw her. Ktulu had seen the dead body of their uncle, had burned his body and given him a true warrior's funeral. But this. This was her mother left to rot in the sun without anyone the wiser. Without anyone caring. She stopped short, snorting loudly at the sight. Anger and despair waged a terrible war in her heart. Where was Paladin? Hadn't he promised to protect her? Where was he when she had been killed? Why was his body not alongside hers? Didn't he love her enough to lay down his life for her or was his love for his mate as fickle as his love for his daughters?

She had wanted to be like him. All of her life she had wanted to be just like her father, but no more. She would not allow her mate to fall victim to murder (judging from her chest wound) like Paladin had allowed his. She would be stronger than he had ever been and she would succeed in every place that he failed.

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