Verdigris Ravine (M) And wrens have begun to sing an old song in the mouth of your kettle.

im sorry D:

zoug did not understand s'ari's attachment to this wolf, but was growing fiercely annoyed by the aggressive way in which she defended the bleeding other.

the reek of vomit and blood slowly stiffened his spine. s'ari's snapping was understandable, given the rapidly changing state of her body, but zoug had his own additions to make.

not in the cave. outside. this time his gestures were sharp.

he did not want a wolf close to his pups, and zoug stared at s'ari as she began her labor, eye hot with clear refusal to compromise further. in his mind, they were bringing a predator already far too near for his comfort. even if she was too weak to add physical injury to anyone of the tribe, it was clear to his male mind that she was diseased, oozing illness. her bad spirits could injure mother and child alike.

and he did not care if the wolf died. what mattered to zoug was that s'ari and her pups lived. it was evident that she would not move without assurance from him. no harm comes to this one you call friend. water. food. rest. i have spoken, the man added with a punctuating grunt. nature would drag s'ari into childbirth in a matter of time. he would not argue with her over it, and stood deliberately and far aside to say that the wolf might pass into the ravine for the things offered.

the choice belonged to s'ari. if she did not choose, her children would be born near the churn of ill things. he did not think she wanted this, and waited for them both.