Lost

Slowly her eyes began to open, blinking slowly as she looked around to try and get her bearings. It was daylight, after midday as a quick glance at the sun told her. She was laying flat on her side, sore and still weary. How long had she slept? The time of day held no clues... it was possible she'd been out longer than a day. The scent trailed had been faint before she'd collapsed and once she'd struggled to her feet and padded around some it became clear that she was not going to be able to follow it any further.

Why had it suddenly spread so? Scattered throughout the clearing but with no path out? She'd searched for hours and now she did so again. Futile attempts to call to her brother were howled out into the air. Maybe he  was lost, trying to find his way. She howled again and again. Hours passed until again the sun had set. A passing hare had met its end and filled her stomach just a little. A nearby stream had quenched her thirst. But she was dirty and tired and still not prepared to give up. She began to track outwards from the clearing in straight lines, searching for the scent of the drow or Solus. Each time she found nothing she traced her steps back and tried again. 

The sun rose on another fruitless day. Slowly but surely she began to give up hope. Thoughts of her mother and sister left alone began to fill her consciousness. She'd tracked the drow away from them blindly. But now the trail was lost... could the drow have cut back. Panic filled her chest as she turned quickly and bolted back out of the clearing heading back the way she had come. She ran for what seemed like an age before she slowed and looked around. Which way had she come? Panic swelled within her pushing out rational thought as it filled her consciousness. Her massive head swung from side to side as she looked for something familiar. She'd run for days, following only a scent trail, not paying much heed to the path she'd trodden to get here.

Hours later and the weary golden garou was still wandering. A vague instinct told her that the pool lay North, so that was the way she headed, paws falling heavily on the ground with each exhausted step. As night fell she stopped to rest, drink and try to find some prey. Still, the sun rose next morning on her still tired and hungry. She would not be deterred though as was soon back on her feet trudging through the undergrowth. She lost track of the hours, or the passing of night and day, her journey passing with little incidence out in this remote realm. Still, she felt the subtle draw of the pool and moved forwards with a steady determination.