Redtail Rise the colloquy of monos and una

teeth clack together painfully as Lilia ducks her attempt to grasp on, and before she can launch a counteroffensive, Augur is between the two of them, pleading, touching—

and the girl continues to run her mouth.

and Avicus lets her, despite every muscle in her body straining, aching to rend her limb from limb.

she respects Augur too much to spill blood of one he loves—and respects, thoug she's loath to admit it— beneath his paws.

you would be noh'hing wi'ouh' me, wi'ouh whahh' i've builhh' here, Avicus says instead, burning gaze boring into Lilia's skull. i foundh 'hhis pack. i have kephh' ihh' from harm. i have provided landh, foodh, warriorhh'.

her tattered tongue cleans the angry spittle from her jowls.

'hhe bear came for me, an' oh'herhh' 'hhook me away. buhh' i came back. i have alwayhh' come back. i live here; i will die here.

her stare shifts to Augur, now, and softens, though more with betrayal than any kind of easing of tensions. et tu, brute?

if you are nohh' for me, you are againhh' me, Avicus informs him gravely. you were here ahh' 'hhe beginning. you know me. i am your Wealda.

the anger in her gut was churning into something heavier, more sickly. she felt suddenly nauseous, awash in this great upheaval.

she had no inkling of how far she'd fallen from grace.

or is it only in Lilia's mind?

she should have killed the girl as a whelp, she decides—but the Rubicon has since been crossed. the Berserkr has grown far too powerful.

Lilia must relent or die.