Northstar Vale A new reason to smile.

A tension caught in her shoulders. She was not trained in fighting, could not put herself between Reiko and any danger even if she wanted to, but the look on Ibis' face spoke of a loyalty and a sense of offense that blazed with a freshly tapped intensity. She was always a girl who felt things too strongly - but never had she felt such a great desire to do another person harm. It frightened her; but more than that, she felt utterly capable at the same time - as if her foray in to the wilderness had awakened a new self.

I -- Ibis wanted to refuse her. Shout it from the proverbial rooftops; find the strongest men in the pack and drive the awful man out, out, out! A wretched black spot upon their glorious new beginning. I promise, she choked out through gritted teeth.

Husband, she recited once Reiko had concluded her story. Husband. How could a husband treat a wife that way? How could Reiko allow herself to be subjected to any harm, when he was meant to love her? No. Wrong. Not a husband. A captor. The girl's spine prickled further and her tail-tip twitched. A husband should love you, trust you, and honor you. No man that harms you can earn that title - I will keep your secret Reiko, because you need me to - but, but what? She couldn't demand the truth at a later date; she couldn't chase this horrible man out, or punish him in any real way. If he hurts you again --

The threat was left open-ended. Ibis could do nothing and this lack of agency frustrated her more than anything. She'd find some way to fix this, she swore to herself. One day.