Ravensblood Forest shoulders smooth as raven's claws

Ikkalrok was not a creature capable of deception. She was a woman without guile, and her behavior belied her intent. Passing through, it said now, and as his voice sounded off Ikkalrok entertained it with a disinterested flick of her ear. She did not understand the word he spoke, and even should she have there would have been no different reaction earned by his gravelly voice. If he was seeking a friend or a companion, he would find neither in the hard woman of the North who had no time to spare on lonely strangers. Even while she moved away the Tartok woman heeded him; if he was a coward, he would find their brand of bravery now, when all he could see of her was her back (that would soon disappear into the cover of the trees).