Ravensblood Forest I love you, I hate you, I can't get around you

icewater filled astara's mouth. across the river nyra spoke, vowing death.

well duh, the songbird wished to reiterate. all things died. it was the nature of the world. someday, she would be committed dirt-side, and the world would move on without her.

she only hoped she would raise her son and daughter to actualize their potential before that happened.

astara raised her muzzle, water dripping from her rounded cheek.

bold words for one separated by water. bolder words still, to claim oneself responsible for the death of a bear.

idly astara wondered what was done with the corpse. did they eat it? perhaps they saved a claw or tooth -- some small artefact of great power. she believed averna would be interested in such a thing - heartstrings or tooth or bone, it did not matter.

astara turned her back to nyra, flinging snow from under her paws in a final gesture of contempt before she strode away.