Mature Content Warning

six kills had been a heavily scarred warrior from an encampment many days away. three times the age of muskrat, he arrived in her village with a contingent of warriors and a suggestion for the clan matriarch, gorseberry.

explaining that he could mate no women in the camp of racing water, for they were his relations, six kills had traveled in hopes of finding another swamp panther village and a wife. in return, the racing water people would surrender their claim to the beds of edible roots two days' walk to the north. 

such an offer could not be ignored. not only could edible plants support what meat was brought, the place itself was a rich hunting-ground. owning it would end years of squabbling between bands. gorseberry did not take long to accept.

muskrat's initiation into the warrior's society did not preclude her from duty, her grandmother decided. she would go with six kills in three days' time. 

muskrat shifted and stood, glancing down the sunspire for the sign of any men. her throat wished to call for them; she fought the building tone and tried to let hunger guide her trajectory down into the emerald fields and sunny forests.