Mari dragged her tired body up the hill. Once she reached the top, familiar scents reached her nose. Aki... Gray.... Home. She cried out with happiness, urging herself into a run. Down the hill she flew, then found herself heading straight toward Gray. "Whoa!" she barked, rolling to a stop. "Gray!" she yelped, leaping at him.
"MOM!?" gray raced up to her, licking her face.
"Mari?" a quiet voice asked from behind. Aki's eyes swam with tears, he had fear so that she had died.