Bearclaw Valley Be Prepared

Clary was utterly torn. She trusted her sister with all her heart - Steph was the oldest, after all, even if only by a few minutes, and always seemed to have a clear head on her shoulders, something Clary couldn't boast too well herself. But at the same time, she didn't think herself so bad at reading character that she had misjudged the pale man below. He seemed genuinely concerned - moreover, he seemed genuinely able to get them both into trouble if they didn't listen to him now. Regardless of whether or not this was really mama's brother, she took his warnings to heart, and Clary swallowed, throat thick with the decision of what listening to either of them meant.

In the end, her decision came from fear. Not of the man himself, nor of what he might do if they came to run past him, but of what he would do if the two of them stayed stubbornly on the mountain instead of coming down. They would leave anyway, once the man left - but by then it would be too late. He'd already be off to tell mama about them, and she was sure he would reach her first. Clary couldn't let that happen.

She glanced at Steph with a soft whine and a look of I'm sorry in her eyes. Then, the grey girl began her descent. Every step felt wrong - like she was somehow betraying the trust she placed in Steph for this strange unknown maybe-relative she'd never seen nor heard of til now. The choice was obvious to her, and if the man proved a danger, well... at least she'd be the one, and not Steph, taking the shot.