Swiftcurrent Creek pipestone

grandmother gorseberry had been as bitter as the sourfruit sound of her name implied. her mouth was always twisted in judgement of some sort. even when she was not with cloud singer had muskrat enjoyed evading her grandmother, making it a personal challenge.

all that had ended the day that gorseberry had ordered cloud singer killed. muskrat had not known the true power of her family's matriarch until it was too late.

strangely, tears threatened. muskrat found them unfamiliar. she hadn't shed a single one yet for him, and bit them back now. he would not have wanted it.

the creekwolf who found her was unknown, young with slender-reed legs. muskrat let out a single bark of laughter as frog confronted girl, then hobbled forward to seize and dispatch what amounted to her fourth amphibian.

her narrow yellow eyes surveyed the other. "scared of frog?" the omega teased a little. "taste, first. will not be scared again. hungry forever when you hear frog voice."

she knocked the limp creature toward the stranger in an encouraging gesture.