Bearclaw Valley ah, how McDonald's of you

indra felt heat rise to her cheeks as piper contested her words, lobbying her with words that indra could only barely absorb without righteous disbelief. a scoff rudely split from her throat, while the tattered corners of her ears pulled back in scorn. reflexively her muscles tensed, a coiling stiffness around them that seemed to suggest well the fury that just barely was kept lidded. in that moment she wanted to strike down her insolent niece, and lash her for the cruelty of her tongue.

indra had been looking; she had been gone for days at a time while xan did nothing. she had cracked paws, sore limbs -- her sleek summer condition had faded to a wearied and thrifty pelt, and her good weight had been lost until she looked wilted as a twisted grey tree. her stomach churned to be accused so wrongly, and an old injustice emblazoned in her gaze.

she did not trust herself to react fairly; she would hurt piper if she could, but the hurt and anger would be misplaced -- and then how could she live with herself? piper was only reacting as a child could - it was not her fault she could not see the forest for the trees, and would not have indra said the same thing, in her shoes?

with a snarl indra turned on her heels; she could not contain her wrathf for long before it would seek to strike, and knowing the venom her anger was capable of, indra quickly pressed into a blind run.