Redtail Rise israfel

that's a quorum. enough, she thinks, to begin. Mulherin can be filled in, or will hopefully arrive as she's speaking.

Avicus noses Redd's tawny muzzle—she's putting on some weight, at least. they share the same energy. to her surprise, Carrion also comes, but lingers off to the side. Masquerade greets the girl, then steps forward to heed her mother. Avicus returns the touch, indigo eyes then landing on the approaching forms of Wanderer-Watcher and Redsky.

Mulherin will come. she knows it.

Lilia will nohh' have me ahh' Wealda, she announces. her voice is raw with the anger and betrayal, as if she's been gargling granite. when we namedh Augur ahh' Wealda, i offered'uh 'hhhep up ahh' Ulfhedinn. she would nohh' have 'hhat, eih'her.

the injustice of it all slams her once more in the solar plexus, and she takes a deep breath, grasping for self-control. Lilia 'hhaid many 'hhinghh' 'hho me 'hhahh' i will nohh' forgive. it is only becauhh' i honor Augur 'hhat i do nohh' kill her for her dihh'rehh'peck, Avicus notes, and pays careful attention to the faces of those around her at this. the younger ones, she knows, will have grown up with Lilia almost as much a mother figure as Masquerade.

but they must learn early, and often, that disrespect will not be tolerated.

i will nohh' live in a plahhe' where i am nohh' re'peck'hed, she continues. ahh' long ahh' Lilia remainhh' here, i will nohh'.

she's considered violence—an ouster by force. but she does not have the numbers. even looking past the younger litter's age, their loyalty to her is most assuredly in doubt after all that had transpired. the new faces on the Rise barely knew her. Augur and his family would not fight. and even Masquerade may try to broker a peace rather than shed blood.

only Redd she knows for sure would go to battle alongside her—and the young woman is in no shape for it.

i am leaving 'hho findh where i wahh' born, Avicus says. no one livedh 'hhere when i went lahh'. maybe no one livehh' 'hhere now.

then, the ask: come if you wanhh'. she tries and fails to swallow the lump in her throat. i will love you no mah'her whahh' you dehh'hide.

silence falls upon the assembled Redtails, the only sounds the howling of the coming winter winds and the cries of distant gulls.