Arrow Lake it's broken

praimfaya shifted into place near their flank, and renard cut her the very edge of their violet stare. when they came back around to the blackbird it was to the tip of her tail clasped in her teeth and pulled awkwardly over her flank, and before they were even reminded of themselves they were reminded of donovan.

her claw came across her throat. renard smiled, a wide and flat baring of teeth.

they didn't think much of revenge. that wasn't a lie. all they had against donovan was that he had a skull like a rock, and it was more frustrating than it was entertaining to watch him ruin everything he set out to do. and of course, the matter of being attached to that level of stupidity. 

and the kid wasn’t theirs. but if it had been, they'd admit they'd probably have felt the same. would’ve been one thing if it’d just started a fight it couldn’t finish. it was altogether another to have donovan's newest favorite walk to your borders under the title of ally, snap its ribs, and come away with every body part intact.

if she wanted donovan or nyra, that was what praimfaya wanted. and what they wanted by now, just to watch the fireworks. maybe give themselves a little satisfaction at things turning out exactly as they'd known they would. they were more than happy to help that along.

and they'd trust her, and the rest of ursus, as much as they'd meant to trust them before donovan had fucked that up. a distraction, nothing more. with how protective he'd been of nyra, he'd be more concerned with the fallout from his broken alliance than another two of his saints vanishing into thin air. she was so caught up in making herself out to be the victim, wasn't she.

they doubted praimfaya trusted the blackbird either. but it would be a surprise if she wanted to reveal anything to donovan. they'd deserve the consequences if that panned out.

"there are fewer saints than there were when we came to ursus, but donovan recruits warriors. they're strong, even if only one of them bothers to think." their smile curled at the edges; they motioned to praimfaya with a twitch of their muzzle. "it'll take more than just us. but i don't think i've known a pack without someone looking for donovan's blood." though few enough said it in those terms.

plenty of them liked the thought, but there was nothing to be gained by pretending you could have a peaceful solution to your problems. if you wanted safety, if you wanted peace, it was still bought with blood. something at least ursus seemed to understand. 

whether the same could be said for yuèlóng, or whoever else praimfaya intended to gather...they'd see for themselves soon enough.