Moonspear look what you've done

As he spoke the words, Hydra tilted her head. Who suffers from hysteria? Genuine interest came into her tone. She wanted to hear him refer to her as such, if that was what he truly thought. If anything, Hydra felt it was him who was becoming hysteric throughout this. And for this tawny bitch who should mean nothing, who perhaps would have. Hydra sighed to his words. This is how it has always been. You, and mother—now me, as I have come into it; I thought were you here you would have given me your blessing as mother had, truthfully. I thought it was mother who had gone to you with the message, actually—and having heard nothing from you throughout my time, I thought that I had it. It was not something I hid from you, she shared with him how she thought of this. Never has there been other blood but yours and mothers on this mountain. And now, yours, mothers, and mine—for they share the blood of you two, as they do my mate and I, she waved her tail at that. There have been no others. And to allow for it... for Speedy to act on her heat despite my warning, is a challenge to me. It would mean she has no respect for me as her leader, either. It will mean that she and her children will always be above the decisions that I make. And it will teach everyone that my word means nothing... and... she faltered here. She did not want to admit what made bile rise in her throat, and fortunately for her he spoke first. 

Mother would never deny you if she could help it, though. Perhaps it does not feel like that right now, she reasoned, but it is because she loves you that she is so enraged. You think it is simple; perhaps for men, it is, she allowed, and that is not a bad thing, if so, and would explain why womens heat must be prevented by a lead female. Why I knew what I must do, she considered his thoughts in all of this. But for women, especially those that do lead, there can be no greater insult than for something like this to be done... even the belief in it caused anger. Mother loves you enough to see what you have created versus what she did not give this year, Hydra shared. What she was not so certain of was if her mother not going into heat was a permanent thing. When he turned away, Hydra did not see the tears that brimmed his eyes. But she could sense a great sadness. 

Her nose moved toward his chin, and she sighed. I was hurt when you spoke to me the way you did that day. Never have you spoken to me like that, and I reacted. Not to undermine your authority, but to reestablish mine, she explained, wanting him to understand this, too. I listened to your decision, and set aside my instinct, something she had never done before. Hydra withdrew then, watching his features, murmuring, before she withdrew, I trusted you. 

For she had. And some of her still did, and that was what presented itself in this moment. There would be plenty of time for the fiery anger that lurked in her own belly, keeping her children warm.