Hushed Willows vergnügen

She went quiet as Mali seemed to satiate, her voice stolen from her as the smoked stranger gave voice to all of the thoughts that had been whirling in her head.

And for a second, all was quiet.  She felt it again, how it all just seemed to wink out.  No wind.  No birds.  And then Mali released upon her a barrage of vitriol.  

Her hackles raised, tail flicking over her hind, lip curled as she rounded upon him brutally. Don't you DARE lecture me about loss! She stepped stiffly towards him, teeth snapping the air between them.  This wasn't my decision, it was Alarian's.  He dropped this pack on me, so he could abandon us, too.  Don't you bame me for trying to keep everyone together! She was never meant for leadership, she had never wanted this.  It had been thrust upon her and despite it all, she was still trying.  I lost my husband, I lost my daughter, Olive lost her son.  Don't... she choked, Lily and Mahler and even Mali pushed from recognition. Her voice lost its steam and intensity as she went on, and her final statements just sounded defeated.  Don't you dare try to tell me about loss.

She paused, glancing back at Lily and the stranger, then back at Mali.  You have disrespected me and you have disgraced this pack.  Get out of my sight.  She pointed her nose back towards the packlands, prepared to hold her ground.