Lion Head Mesa Shinzō-byō

There was a crumpling in his heart that he did not understand. It was familiar and violently painful. The force of it had nearly knocked the air from his lungs.

Crowfeather did not know this woman.

He wanted her to leave, at once.

You are a queen now. I did not expect to have many visitors, if I’m being honest.

The shadow swallowed, swallowed, swallowed, but he could not force the lump in his throat to go down. The pain of his heart was excruciating. The pain of watching her stand there, cold, distant, businesslike – Crowfeather exhaled through his nose, hoping it would help him breathe or clear thoughts from his mind.

Are you happy, Satsu?

He did not know why he asked her. The shame and regret filled his features for only a second before his fluttering lashes chased it away.


Are you proud of who you have become?