Jade Fern Grove hauntings

as of late astara had spent more time with her children than her crow; if this was how nature willed it, she hated it. still, she fell to the rank-and-file life of motherhood with little resentment -- for it was not her children she had grown to watch coldly, but her crow.

he had been scarce. moreso than she. often overcome with jealousy, astara wondered whose bed he was visiting those hours he was gone -- which woman was it he was plowing, while she was being suckled to death by his children?

astara received merrick generously enough, though her gaze was guarded. it did the heaviness of her spirit some good to see him bucking and prancing like a colt -- yet any time he came close to coaxing a grin from his blackbird, she was suddenly reminded of wolves like nyra and ikkalrok -- wolves very much different than her, and wolves she was terrified he was engaging in relations with.

watching much as aventus was prone to do, astara moved carefully through the verdant glade. she was unaware of its hidden beauty, and very much focused on the harrowing thought her lover had found other women to love.