Silvertip Mountain pikpaksriruk ∅

a flick of her snowbound ears, listening. such bitterness toward one who had given much of herself. who was mother over and again, who held the ways of her old world; yes, kukutux respected hydra for such. though they were not her ways, there was a consistency to the blackbear's actions that she had long treasured.

and arcturus had sought to rip it all away from her, only to stand down in the last second and depart the mountain forever. kukutux recalled how she had seen him; had been compelled to descend moonspear and search for arcturus. betrayer, protector of trespassers; but loved in the heart of his sister. "i know the ways in which you are weak." teeth glinting beneath her paleskin lip. "and i know that he is a man, and when men are not satisfied, they return to what is familiar."

revui; fevered and gasping against the rocky soil of moonspear.

"that will be the mountain. and that will be my children, for he is their relative. you say that you will not disown him. then when he comes home, i will not expect to see you follow this time." hydra had spared wraen. kukutux would not, and the hunting-mark throbbed hotly upon her shoulder; to see the desolation embodied in one woman, one woman who could give arcturus nothing in her estimation.

but perhaps it was revui who lurked behind her ugly words, the granite of his voice ringing; "and when he comes home, i will find a proper wife for him."