Noctisardor Bypass imbolc

Witch was safe. Tears sprang to Druid’s eyes. They came so easily these days, though these were the happy, relieved sort. As they spilled over her cheekbones, she moved nearer to Sequoia, meaning to press her nose to her dam’s nape when the woman’s words made her go still again.

Mahler and Laurel were alive, which was good news, but her gladness was tempered by the news that they were badly hurt. Sequoia insisted they would recover. She said something about Merrick taking Indra, as if the name should mean something. It didn’t, though Druid assumed it belonged to one of the attackers from Ursus, which she took to be the name of the enemies’ pack.

Why? was all Druid could manage.