Forgotten

-30-

The time had come.

Sansa stood upon the doorstep to the cabin, taking it in and wistfully staring at it.

She had grown to love the small building. It had been a place she could call her own. Something that she could make for herself. She felt a connection to Nova, and how both of them were healers in the woods.

"You don't have to go."

Sansa turned to face Esmond.

He had come up from the path, his golden eyes watching her as he took in the placement of her hand upon the frame.

"You can stay here. Be our healer. Live in this cabin."

"I know..." there was small longing in her voice. Sansa already knew that traveling, though it was full of wonder and incredible experiences- was not for her.

She wanted a home. She wanted a family. She wanted to come to a place of warmth and acceptance every day. Since she had been cast off from her own family, she had never felt that, and for some reason, since then, that was the only thing Sansa had ever really wanted.

Ironic then, that the mate she was destined to have, did not fit her ideal description. Sansa felt herself smiling at her thoughts. They always carried back to Night.

She turned to look back at Esmond, "I have to continue."

"You've been to so many places already," he whispered, pain lacing his voice, "will you find him?"

Sansa felt shock run through her before she realized the actual meaning of his words. He still thought she was searching for her mate. For someone unknown and never seen before to her.

"I'll find him," she said.

He smiled at her confidence. But there was something fragile and unsure in her words that had him taking a step closer.

"You're always welcome back here."

"Thank you."

He caught her hand, a sudden fierceness in his gaze as he maneuvered her to look at him.

"I mean it Sansa," he growled, "If you are in danger, need help, or a place to rest...come here. Come straight to me."

Sansa slowly pulled away from him, her heart beating faster from his words. He smiled suddenly down at her, a sad smile that made something clench in her chest. It could be easy, Sansa thought, so easy to forget it all and toss away her past.

"Goodbye Esmond," she had to look away to prevent him from seeing the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. She was always saying goodbye. Always having to leave. She was beginning to understand the unbearable pain Night must have endured those long years when they were able to see one another.

Unexpectedly, Esmond reached for her, wrapping her within his arms.

"Don't cry. And don't cry alone at night. You never know who will come. It won't always be me who tries to save you."

Sansa laughed and hugged him back. She felt a deep connection with this male. A friendship that she had not realized that had formed. It was different than the one with Nova. Nova had been like the mother figure she had never had.

But Esmond...he was almost her same age. Sansa realized then that it was the first time she had ever had a friend who might have been so close to her age. Someone that she felt so comfortable with.

"I hope I'll see you again."

Sansa did not say a word. She only pulled away from him and smiled. She did not want to leave any false promises for him to hold onto. No promises for her to worry about keeping. That was how she always had to leave packs. With nothing between them.