Bearclaw Valley [M] they breathe you in, and dive as deep as they can

between the blood and fear a new acridity seeped into the air -- astara paid it little mind. her tongue felt raw -- later, she would notice ikkalrok's teeth had cut a deep groove across her jaw, slicing deep into her tongue.

her gaze fell to ikkalrok, the mountain -- the harlot that had bedded her merrick. she vowed in that moment that every wolf that laid with merrick would receive the same unkind fate - or she would die trying.

to merrick, astara gave but a rippling growl in response. bloodfever and fury were still upon her -- as was a rousing dose of adrenaline.

the children; not hers, but ikkalrok's; the blackbird turned to them with jaws slavering, a cruelty to her gaze. she had ever intention of holding both of them face down to their mother's blood until their struggles ceased.

ignoring her own child for now astara strode for glaucos, hungering -- only to be repelled by the stench of urine heavy around him. that split second of pause was all it took for astara to look at glaucos and see not just a creature to be dispatched, but a child -- a trembling, fearful child.

she thought of aventus, and how he had been wary; fear wreathed around ikkalrok's children in a similar manner. they might not share her blood, but did they not share merrick's? astara's resolve to kill them fractured away -- no matter how cruel or cold she became in this world, she did not believe she could kill fruit from merrick's seed.

panting, astara issued a second growl towards astayanx, who whimpered and stepped close. her gums raked back, exposing teeth: come no closer, the silent command suggested.

they might not be loved as her children were, but they were ikkalrok's no longer.

a cool glance then to merrick, studying him. astara nudged avicus gently, lowering her head and skulking towards the two fresh orphans. they had two options; be driven by her from the den, or be left alone to starve.

last from me <3