Redtail Rise Phoenix

Masquerade looked up just in time to watch Mulherin nuzzle Redd’s chin. She quickly looked down again, her heart in her throat. It was much more bruised than her ego. That smarted too, of course, but it was grief that washed through her now as she remembered just what they’d been fighting over: their dead mother’s title.

Masque hung her head, body trembling. She was exhausted and in pain. But she tried to rally, at least to acknowledge Redd’s victory. Masque didn’t want to be a sore loser. And if anybody tried to refute Redd’s claim to the Wealda title, the Caru would be the first to leap to her defense, the past few minutes aside.

Riley drifted toward her. Masque looked up again, the fire in her heart snuffing out abruptly when she realized nobody else had come over to check on her. Her heart froze in her chest and began to sink. It plummeted at the sound of Mountain Boulder’s proclamation.

Still nobody looked her way, save for the dark Ulfr. Was the rest of the pack going to shun her now? Would Redd and New Snow chase her away? Was Masque about to lose the only home she’d ever known, just days after losing her mother?