Truth emerged from the brambles, and her eyes immediately flicked over to see Frost sitting beside the boulder, his head bent slightly. From Truth's angle, she could still clearly see Lamentis snoring away. A gentle smiled played on her lips, and she stepped forward, clearing her throat. She placed the rabbit down and nudged it towards Frost, before trotting over to the small den.

"Lamentis," she said softly, nudging the pup with her dark nose. The pup reached around and batted at Truth, grumbling in her sleep.

"Noo, I don't wanna go hunting todayyy," she mumbled, letting out a deep sigh as she drifted back to sleep. Truth snorted, before poking her head out. "Frost? Could you wake Lamentis? I feel like it would be easier for you," she said, nodding at the den.

Frost nodded in appreciation, before he was called to the den. "I'll try," He'd yawn, squeezing his way back into the den. Gently poking her with a paw, Frost called her name softly, at all attempts to wake the pup. "Theres a rabbit out here for you to share," He tried his best to sound encouraging.

Mara kept running, pushing her way through thorns and stickers. She had to get out of there at all costs, even if it meant re opening the scars that fueled her fears. Gasping for breath at each stride, the fearful feline froze in her tracks. There was a noise in the bushes..

At the mention of food, Lamentis's head popped up, her golden eyes wide. "A rabbit?" she said excitedly. She hopped up and crawled over the top of Frost, not even waiting for him to move, and scuttled over to the rabbit. She licked her maw and begun to dig in, ripping off the hind legs and chewing on them.

Truth watched Frost and Lamentis interact with a slightly amused expression, her tail curled around her back paws. She looked down her snout and saw there was still some remaining blood from the rabbit. She looked away, licking it from her nose and lips.

Hearing a rustling coming from the bushes, her ears swiveled and her head whipped around, fur bristling. Was her son back? Did he bring reinforcements? She began to stand, lips curling, before a small cat pushed her way through the brambles.

"Frost?"

She said softly, looking at the large feline. Truth cocked her head to the side, glancing at Frost. He looked like he recognized her. Strange.

Lamentis remained oblivious, now playing with the hindquarters of the rabbit like a toy. She kicked them into the air towards the new cat, jumped up, and pounced on it, before spotting the paws of the newcomer. She looked up and blinked in confusion, looking behind her. Sure enough, Frost was still there. So who was the new cat?

Mara jumped backwards, fur sticking straight out. Who were they, and why was Frost there? The female made her way out of the brush, her pelt littered with thorns and branches. The cat was incredibly scared, and within good reason. Her father tried to kill her for christ's sake, who wouldn't be?

Frost stared, wide eyed. "I thought you were dead!"

"Yeah, you killed mother and the others! You're the one who should be dead!"

"It wasnt-"

Lamentis let out a soft whimper as the cat began to yell. She scooted towards Truth, her stomach brushing the ground, tail between her legs. She hid behind the larger wolf, peeking out from the mocha fur. Truth, however, was not as bothered. After all, she and Whisper often had yelling matches. Or rather, he did. Truth usually just sat as Whisp growled in her face.

Truth watched Frost with a curious expression, before standing up again, raising her tail.

"Alright, both of you, hush," she said calmly, tilting her head at the newcomer. "Who are you?"

Mara stood there for a second. "Mara. This cat here, who doesn't even deserve to be called my father, killed them all!" She burst out, obviously deeply upset. Many scars littered her pelt, all in a rosy pink that never disappeared.

Frost sighed.

Lamentis chirped up from behind Truth's legs. "Mara, Mara, Mara," she said in a sing-song voice, instantly in a better mood. Her tail wagged as she grinned happily at Mara, her tongue lolling out of her mouth.

Truth hummed in thought, glancing at Frost again. He seemed exhausted. "He didn't mean to," she said softly, looking back at Mara.

"His mind was unwell. It still is, I believe, just not at this very moment."

"Yeah right." Mara grumbled at her father.

"Hey, you know I didn't!" Frost retorted his daughter's comment.

"Then how come it happened before the humans?"

Frost fell quiet.