Redsand Canyon the death of orchids

haha excellent

the rank scent of badger assaulted merrick, sharpening his singular pupil. but hunger could be ignored at present. a week, she said, and the bearwitch answered, "not anymore."
she was not one of the saints; she did not belong to donovan, and it had been over a week since the tiger vacated this canyon. frustrating for him, but even that was beginning to wane beneath his growing interest.
"you live alone," merrick observed with a lash of his tail. "seems an ugly place to weather the winter by yourself." tone soft, teasing; he could snap her supple neck if he so chose, but her visage kept such from happening. merrick enjoyed the look of baubles, and the stranger had fashioned herself thus.