Emberwood Swore I’d never let a man in my way.

The sound of a voice hit her ears and Ibis was inclined to move off again, to escape before being found. Take this time to be alone and to wallow a bit. Except there wasn't time for that. Easy appeared swiftly, her plush and mottled coat arrayed with bits of snow, curling at the ends just like her mother. Ibis felt an intense jealousy seed itself in her heart as she looked upon the beautiful girl; much as she had been covetous of Eleuthera's pelt when they were children together, the Archdruid could not stop a similar comparison from flourishing in the back of her mind. She felt her shoulder-fur bristle; but she composed herself and smiled all the same.

Hello, she replied. I would've thought you would accompany your mother on the trip abroad? Ibis intoned conversationally, not really wanting to think about that trip or the fact Bhediya had taken Kukulkan with her instead; that was fine, it was proper to have an escort, and Kukulkan would keep her safe. So then why did Ibis feel so bad about it? It was nonsensical.