Whitefish River and the bargain must be made

mastery thread - tracker

she follows the river, alert for any small creature that may cross her path, but not keen on focusing on them. it reminds her too much of a month past, when she was hunting here with her son in tow, and all was as it should have been. a fortnight, now; that's how long it's been since she was left hollow. 

her focus slips; the fronds in front of her tremble wildly and a sleek form slides into the river; a muskrat. she'd grown used to the river's wildlife after her time in Swiftcurrent, its patterns and fauna. she knows then that the bare, gently inclining earth just beyond the reeds is a drinking place; easily accessible. and so she settles down to wait at what might make its appearance there; packmate or prey.