Bearclaw Valley They don’t get the context ‘cause it’s too complex

more graciously than astara might have preferred, the saints were allotted one final chance to redeem themselves. instead, donovan shipwrecked the alliance as if a moth throwing itself into furious flame. 

just like that, the saints were in ursus’ grace no longer.  

better then, that astara did not speak — so no word was ever wasted on the halfbreed who fancied himself king of the idiots in the red hills. 

he chose to ignore his subordinate’s misdemeanor, as he chose to ignore the query of her people. as he chose to ignore rationality and common decency. and if he could not be reasoned with now, if he could not make this right — what use was he at all to ursus? 

an understanding of that ancient law settled into astara’s heart — of kill quickly and kill first. watching donovan prepare to leave, the blackbird realized if he was allowed to go unchecked he would never be bloodied by justice. he would never learn not to make pacts with crocodiles and wolves alike, while harming their children. worse yet, if he left ursus alive he would be a liability. a threat to their empire and her children. 

she would wait, blade in hand, until donovan’s back was turned. 

death had no scruples about the manner in which souls were delivered to its door. death had no honor — and besides, what good had honor gotten her son? 

Aventus had nearly been killed in his own home.  while this halfwit pompously demanded their company, and figuratively spat into the faces of the one hand that had been willing to feed him. doglike in every despicable way save one one way it mattered — and for astara, dogs were always put into the dirt. 

for that, a black token to his name and soul — exchangeable upon entry to charon’s endless and ever churning riverbank. 

astara lunged for donovan’s hock, hungering for the satisfying crunch that was turning gristle and bone into gruel. 

derg would be allowed to flee — but donovan.. astara imagined he’d make a fine addition to the growing abattoir that was their borders. and his stupid fucking tail — why, that would be Aventus’ newest chew toy. 

 a warning then to all — don’t fuck with bears.