A/N That's two chapters in one week now, isn't it. Well, don't expect it too often. One, this one's short, two, I don't usually have time like that, I just got lucky, and three, it's hard on me. Dx Just a fluffy little backstory chapter, hope you like it. :D

Disclaimer: (I've neglected this lately) Narnia belongs to C.S. Lewis; my characters are mine. C:

Chapter 14: Life's Too Short to Not Try

"Juliana." I ran up to my aunt. It was the morning of the fourth day we'd been at their camp. Cade had made himself busy relaxing most of the time, laying around under the tree near the stream. When he wasn't doing that, he was always with Ferrid. My aunt and uncle liked talking to the Pevensies a lot. I had introduced Peter to Sergei, and we had been training under him together a little. Most of the time, my mentor was resting, but he did get up to battle with each of us once in awhile. I was happy at how eager Peter had been to improve.

Lucy got along really well with Faolan and, especially, Juno. Medi and Faolan were both ranked up with the top five nicest beings I'd ever met. I never thought I'd see Channing happier than he already had been. But I couldn't forget why I'd come.

I had been up for awhile now. Sergei had awoken after me but gone off to hunt. I think he could tell I didn't want to be bothered. Juliana was just coming out of the cave we all shared.

"I need to talk to you. I came here-"

"I know why you're here," My aunt said gently, cutting me off. I started in surprise. I hadn't thought... "Why don't we go sit under the tree and talk."

Juliana walked in the direction of the tree. I hesitated a moment, feeling dizzy, before following closely at her heels. I sat down under the tree, coming up next to Juliana. I looked at her in amazement.

"Don't underestimate me, Miko," she laughed. "I know that you didn't come here just for a visit, as nice as it's been." I looked at my paws.

"It's really been great seeing you," I said, examining the lengthening grass at my paws. The blades became surrounded in an icy casing, one by one, before returning to normal. I focused on doing this multiple times as I spoke, choosing my words carefully.

"I really needed this break," I started slowly. "I've been thinking about catching up with you and the pack since you came to visit before the war. I needed to talk to you anyway, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to stay for awhile and introduce you to my friends. But you know how I am..."

"You never rest, Miko," Juliana murmured, a pang of sadness filling her voice. I looked up to see her looking at me with a glistening, pride-filled gaze. "You've never been able to stop wondering, stop searching, no matter how hard you've ever tried. And look... you see where it's gotten you? How far you've come? You're a wonder, Miko, a miracle..."

"I can't rest," I sighed. "I can't ever stop until I uncover the truth. That's why I've really come. I need you to tell me about my mother, and... how exactly she died."

"I don't know exactly what happened after we were separated, but I can tell you what I do know," Juliana started with a sigh. I settled into my patch of grass, listening intently.

"Our pack was made mainly of the three of us siblings and our families. We had always been very close, and stayed together after we left our parents. It was your mother, Torach, Morgrim, your uncle, Arling, and myself. It had been like that for a long time. We'd picked Morgrim up after he'd been abandoned by the White Witch, half-dead. And Elenora saved your father once, when they met. That's a story she should've told you, though...

"It wasn't long before Elenora had you and Kuna. We were all happy for her, even Morgrim. He was often the one to take care of you two. Torach... none of us ever really liked him anyways, and we soon discovered he didn't make a good father. I think Elenora realized how he really was after you were born, but she never let us know how worried she was. She was so happy with Morgrim around, though. I don't know if she'd have been able to bear the weight of Torach without him. He was almost like your father himself.

"Your mother was truly loved. She had Arling and I, and Morgrim. But your father left. About a month after your sister was born, Torach left the pack and went to the White Witch. We could all tell how much happier Elenora seemed, but she tried always denied that she'd been any worse. Not long after that, she returned to our camp with Tumnus. He saved her life, bless him. That's another story better told by someone else. You'll have to ask him sometime. We were all so happy for the longest time, away from the war and the Witch's rule... But it didn't last long. She found us somehow, and we were attacked. We tried to stay and fight for as long as possible. Morgrim insisted on staying and fighting the longest. He made Elenora run with you. She eventually listened, running away with you. Elenora was chased by a few of her minions. I fled shortly after she did, trying to attract some of their attention. I never saw what happened with Arling. He stayed to fight with Morgrim, I know. But I can't say what happened after that. I first heard from him after Orion and I settled down past the mountains. We've kept in touch and he's doing well. I've told him about you.

"That's really all I know, Miko. I don't know where Elenora could have gone, if she is still alive."

There was a moment of silence as I stored the new information, letting it all register. It took a moment, but the first thing I realized made my heart flutter.

"So... there's a chance...?" I questioned anxiously, trailing off.

"Yes, Miko," Juliana smiled sadly. "There is a chance your mother is still alive, though I don't know how big that chance is. Wherever she's been, she's managed to keep herself well hidden. And I'm sure she won't be found until she wants to be."

I got up and was running around in circles all around the camp barking in happiness within seconds. I heard Juliana's laugh in the back of my mind. I saw Peter emerge from the cave out of the corner of my eye and made one more lap before changing course to run at him. I morphed into a human as I leaped towards him. He caught me, stumbling back, with a shout.

"Miko!" he cried, startled. "What are you doing?"

"Peter! She could be alive! Do you know what this means? I've been waiting so long to hear- I mean, I've always thought- I bet I've always really known- But know I know for sure! Juliana said-!"

"Who exactly could be alive?" Peter asked, stopping me. I hadn't realized how fast I'd been talking this whole time. I took a deep breath before answering, but the excitement was still high in my voice.

"My mother!" Peter stood staring at me for a moment. I watched his eyes unblinkingly. Suddenly his face lit up, a grin spreading across his face.

"That's great!" he said, echoing my own excitement. He lifted me up into the air and twirled me around once before setting me back on the ground. I started laughing and Peter joined me. By this time, everyone else had heard the commotion and was emerging from the two different dens, the remaining Pevensies coming out first. I ran up and hugged Susan suddenly, making her start.

"What's going on out here?" She asked incredulously.

"My mother could be alive!" I shouted. "Juliana just said-! She told me!"

Everyone started talking at once. I heard various excited statements and congratulations.

"That's wonderful!"

"So you could find her then?"

"What now?"

"I'm sure you'll find her soon, then!"

Then Ferrid's voice came to me. He stepped forward.

"All your work has finally paid off," He said calmly, pride in his voice. I grinned at him before shaking my head.

"This is where the real work begins," I said. "I've always had the hope that she might be alive, still. Now I have to prove it to myself."

"Never stop searching." I turned to face Peter, my grin softening slightly.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For everything."

"We're here for you, you know that," Edmund said behind me.

"We're your friends," Lucy added. Susan didn't say anything, but she nodded at me, smiling encouragingly.

"And I couldn't have better ones."

A/N Couldn't find a better way to end it in all honesty. Biiigggg wall of text... it's scares children. I didn't really know how to do the thingy with the quotation marks and where they go on different paragraphs, so I hope I got it right... Someone tell me if I didn't, please. C: