Redtail Rise tonight we make the trojans pay

Masquerade hadn’t returned.  Redd would have been worried if Riley had been present, but that the pair had vanished together spoke of intent.  Neither had communicated with her, but nor had the others as they came and gone.  She knew she lacked their trust.

Masquerade was only different because of her promises.  It cut deeper into her feelings than she would admit, far deeper than maybe it should have.  Redd resigned herself, and the Rise, to their fate.  She could disperse as well and allow Augur the claim, but even without the security of position, she knew no other home.  Perhaps the pair would return.  Perhaps others would follow them.

Redd watched Roamer’s progress and rose to meet her at the stream, silently stepping forward to discover where she’d been.  There was no aggression to her, but there was a firm insistence.  She would not fight the roaming, but she would know of what transpired and who walked her rise.