Morningside Cuesta enter, pursued by a memory

"no! n-no," heda stammered, ears flying backward in apology. "i'll — i don't — i'll do it, persia, thank you," and a quick bland little smile to accompany it as she tried not to glance in the direction of where she had found a den with her daughters.
she didn't know him and john wasn't here right now; he had helped her catch the deer and was entitled to as much of it as he could carry, but nothing else. and certainly not where she slept.
"it will be fine here. if the ravens want to take a little, i don't mind," heda said, her soft voice juxtaposed against the gory nature of her mouth and chest. 
she tore a strip of deerhide, shoving her treasures into its curl.
"the bypass is large. very large. feel free to stay as long as you'd like." away from her. from them. on this side of the lagoon, preferably. the mistrust rose like poison in her mouth.