Lost Creek Hollow locus

she missed rowan fiercely, and indra also. they were two feminine presences from which she could have drawn strength, but they were not here. she had been alone for months, and even now she was by herself. a hiccuping sob broke from mona's throat as she parted her forelegs to allow ashlar closer, near her heart.
"i do love you," she told the sightless, deaf babe, to reassure herself as much as he. "i am just so ... sad." and why should she be? what right did she have to be so terribly anguished.