Greatwater Lake seventy-ninth

she understood, but she was resistant. there would be no double standard—racharra had chosen, and zharille would make her own choice known. she lunged and stopped short of the man, teeth shining; his entourage most likely reacting, if she was lucky he would show his yellow belly too.

no harm done—a test, checking efficacy of their reactions, and the mettle of the man she had grown to loathe.

standing there, zharille would make it known: zharille bow to no desert man. fire-time soon. this was a threat. cubs be born here, lake cubs. strong cubs, learn from mother. unlike the children who had been brainwashed against her, those she would no longer count among her children.

little man, say kill zharille? try, zharille end you now. nothing would come between her and her biological imperative. or, give zharille lake cubs, you walk free.

a curious proposition, or a preposterous one? his desert people would have a foothold through blood, and gain the strength of zharille's bloodline, which they already benefitted from.