Blacktail Deer Plateau sad machine

Despite her presence in the creek, Fox had never thought that any of the children hated her. She thought of them as distant relatives, perhaps even distant friends, but nothing more than that. They reminded her of the various adolescents who had come to the creek: Bones, Magpie, Nightingale. Fox had only ever treated them as adults, because she had always thought that was how they wanted to be treated. She knew that she had not wanted to be viewed as a child at that age. So when Junior sprung to her feet and began spitting hatred at Fox, the red girl's eyes blinked in astonishment.

Fox was not Junior's mother, but she was her superior, and she would not allow such insubordinance to go unchecked. Once she got over her surprise, Fox's hackles prickled along her back and she curled her lip to let Junior know such behavior wouldn't be tolerated from anybody. Fox said nothing, but only waited for Junior to back down.