Blackfeather Woods It's beyond me. Help me, mommy!

She looked up to one daughter, then the second. She hadn't seen much of Kotake; she was a simple shadow to her brighter sister's flame. She had left most of the tending to Kotake when she was busy; she was the healer between all of her children so far. But Kotake rarely spoke; it was up to Koume to speak for her.

An intruder... In a way it was an intruder, an intruder in her body, someone who broke through her defenses and cursed her with bastard, inborn children. No... Was all she could groan. The blood that had flown from her had been too much, and she was dizzy, nearly delirious with stress and bloodloss. They're not coming out... She moaned, the agony both in her body and in her mind. She curled up, tucking herself away, smearing more of the blood on herself. They're not out...