Despite the Morning’s Embarrassment
despite the morning’s embarrassment- a confusion of alternating nightmare and oblivion
- uphill would be difficult
- smell the woodsmoke
- they will find Mona
- around in a long widdershins loop
Despite the morning’s embarrassment at discovering Mona gone, I couldn’t lose focus. I had to find her before her true enemies; winning her trust could come later.
I had awakened from a confusion of alternating nightmare and oblivion, which must have been Mona’s doing. Poison? Magic? I would ask when I caught her.
So I set out. I will find her trail first, walking around in a long widdershins loop, listening for hounds. They will smell the woodsmoke. They will find Mona unless I protect her.
Tracks, to the east. Toward the heights, her old home. Did she really go that way? Uphill would be difficult for her, slow her down. These tracks must be a decoy.
But, maybe not. East I go, hunting a prey I must save from another.