Redtail Rise cutting

seasons ago, Avicus had challenged Aventus for his rank. she hadn't thought he deserved it. and before they could come to many blows—before a suitable conclusion could be reached—her parents had sided with the brother.

and the sister—aggrieved, incensed, embarrassed—departed. she sought the head of Nyra, to slay the beast that had nearly killed her brother. to prove her worth.

the bad blood had festered, and only time and grievous change had healed those wounds.

the heady smell of violence brought her to the scene, appearing with rounded sides in sharp contrast to her angular form. she sees the two young men squaring off, Lilia to the side, a blur of white that is Augur rushing past to break up the quarrel—

'hhtop, Avicus barks, ambling down the slope and heading toward the impending melee. lehh' him go, she commands Augur, stretching her neck to lift her chin higher even than the huge white wolf.

even before he desists, her eyes are darting between the boys. fighh', she tells them. prove your worhh'.

seasons ago, she may have been true princess of the valley, forged in blood and honor. but this season, she is queen of the Rise, and she will not let the enmity between her brother and herself spill over into the next generation.

you have ehh'perienhhe, she tells Relic, looking at him first. he'd fought bravely against the white woman's pack. do whahh' i've 'hhaughh' you.

next, her gaze shifts to Ancelin. fighh', she says again, nodding. if you win, you're a man. you are Bjern.

buhh', Avicus adds, the final sound clipped as if she still could bite those consonants away with the tip of a tongue, you bohh' are mine. an' you bohh' will be loyal. mmm?

the murmur is not a question. it's an order.

she steps back, one, two, three paces, then stops, and glances at Augur to do the same.

might makes right. no other law of mind or matter is superior within her soul.