Bearclaw Valley ah, how McDonald's of you

indra sympathized with piper; she could sense that simmering rage, and how it seemed to bubble out of sight, just barely lidded. someday, that dam would break. someday, piper too would succumb to the ribald anger that burned in every redleaf.

she knew it had been hard on them to lose lucas. in some ways he had been the bright cant of sunlight in an otherwise dreary world. he was the soft summer yellow on a drab scene - his smile could evince play from any, even the adults. now not only were they left with the grief of his passing, but the close of that sunny door; bearclaw once more sunk into grey obscura.

"well. you'll find the world churns on, regardless of what you want out of it. the sooner you realize that, the better." she realized too late she was being slightly condescending -- but indra knew the cold reality piper didn't, and it had hardened her heart and dimmed her outlook. "he's gone. we can keep looking for him, and keep the faith, but there isn't much we can do besides that. what would you do? what is your world like?"