Bearclaw Valley frozen

indra had noticed the shift in laurel's mien and had been troubled by it. her interactions with xan troubled her even further -- now that laurel's stomach showed the presence of new life in her belly, indra felt their time was running short and very little had been resolved. xan would be like reek, she thought -- and the children would have a sorry life they did not deserve.  like laurel she was frustrated that history seemed to have repeated itself. the redleaf girls had not had the easiest life -- and even now, while they tried to find peace and security in the new life they had fashioned for themselves, it seemed iniquitous destiny followed hot on their heels and frustrated their tranquility at every turn. 

she was not far behind as laurel bent down to drink. she saw a shape flicker through the trees ahead, carrying some clutch in its jaws.

the mute woman.

indra felt her hackles flare and she dared the woman come closer, but it seemed she had the good sense to keep distance between them. the woman flung something across the icy rim of water and indra watched it land coldly, returning her mistrustful gaze to the wolf that had disrespected her at every turn.

she thought of how their encounters had gone -- how reigi had hostilely threatened her in their second meeting, and how xan had done nothing. she thought of how laurel had come to her aide when she had been bewildered by the aggressive approach, and how the wolf had later challenged laurel and lost.

finally, she thought of how the female had stared insolently at her, and how, never once in their interactions, the female had shown any sort of deference to her. instead she had lived to disrespect her, and seemed to thrive on instigation of the redleaf girls.


there was no love between them and indra strode quickly to laurel's flank with a protective growl loosened from her throat. she was not above running reigi out of her home then and there, should it come to it -- and the growl that filtered through the hinterlands that cold day was deep and foreboding.