Bearclaw Valley never bet the devil your head

others feel free to hop in whenever!

her father arrives first. it surprises her, somewhat. she had thought it would be Astara—but no, she is greeted by the bear king. she waits for his anger and doesn't find it. only comfort, words of relief; she is stunned. if he is furious with her, he hides it well.

and she is so ashamed of herself that she cannot relax, give in. Avicus remains stiff in his embrace, and then pulls away after a few moments, making herself even lower under his one-eyed gaze of fire.

i'm sorry, her own expression reads, looking near the ground, at his paws. she is the picture of humiliated submission, quite a sight different from her usual proud mien. she is half-tempted to roll and show her belly, though she will wait to see what he does next. to see who else comes.

where is she? Avicus thinks. all she wants is her mother. she will take a thousand disappointed growls and lashes of the blackbird's silent tongue to be in Astara's presence again.