Firefly Ravine "Speak", the queen said

Sen had been dozing, rest being crucial when raising childre—no, a child. Yet her ears were always perked, listening to the sounds around her and remaining alert even as she slept. She had started with three children, truly, yet only a single girl remained. The woman would not admit defeat, nor that she had failed, and so her plan was simply to forget Sao. She no longer existed, she never did. The Gorgon had only ever given birth to a single daughter, the very same that she kept within the den. Yes, that was how things were, and she wouldn't allow for any others to speak against her claim.

From her sleep she'd been dragged, the sound of barking having forced her to not only wake up, but sit up. Immediately, her gaze flew to the entrance, looking for any signs of intruders before scanning the den for her child. When she'd located her, the woman released a quiet sigh as a glare settled across her face. "You need to be quiet," the mother stated. "If you aren't quiet, you will be kept in the dark." Because that totally wasn't already the case.