Silvertip Mountain mercurial

it was with sorrow that astara departed from the den in which her legacy had been born -- but she did not look back.

she mourned for @Avicus, who one day might return home and find her family gone. in this thought came great anguish -- but life, as ever, pressed on. she had her remaining children, aventus included, to think of. their future rested on the eaves of their parent's action.

astara left the hipbone of her mother in the center of the now-abandoned den: let it guard this den and guide my daughter, would she ever come home. and solemnly she collected her two children, the tongue of stones pressed to her cheek.

in merrick astara had only faith -- and it was he she would follow to the ends of the earth. fancy be it that the bear -- or her mate (or her god, because truly were they not the same?) would bring them here.

the cave of crystals.

she had been mostly half-absent, much like asperas, this whole trip. but now something new awoke in her and chased away the dredging webs of sickness and poor health.

here? her eyes danced delightedly as they sought the mad glint of merrick's own. here suited ursus, indeed. astara's voice joined that of her kindred, proud and baying as it trickled through the glade.