Blacktail Deer Plateau It's dark it's cold it's winter

Junior was beginning to hate these superficial reassurances, though she said not a word in reply, letting her aunt speak her piece. Blue Willow's words did make her feel a bit better, though did nothing to stem the flood of tears. Would they keep flowing forever, she wondered, until she shriveled up and died from dehydration? Was that even possible? She considered asking the Healer.

Instead, the juvenile said, "Thanks, Aunt Willow." Although she was still nowhere near ready to reveal her self-inflicted wounds, she revealed, "I got upset 'cause I just saw my dad and Lasher talking just beyond the plateau. He was here and he didn't even try to see me. He just came to see Finley and then hurry home to that stupid life-ruining bitch." These last few words came out of her in a vehement burst and led into a fresh bout of tears, now of the angry sort.