Swiftcurrent Creek and when the levee breaks

Seemingly out of nowhere, a young woman appeared, head held high. Shale looked up as she drew closer, brows raising at her appearance. She might have been beautiful, at her best, but she looked worn down, and her pelt was. . . He'd only seen it once before; they told him it was fire.

He felt some pity for her, and then she spoke.

"Excuse me?" Shale asked, voice incredulous. He was normally more easy-going than this, but his nerves were shot after all that had transpired, and to have this woman accost him, for seemingly no reason. . . "Pardon me, miss, but I don't know what you're talking about."

He thought he caught movement in the trees, and bristled, gray-toned pelt beginning to puff up. This had the looks of an ambush, and he didn't like it one bit.