Bearclaw Valley what you need is a sweet caress

a new wave of steadiness came to the bear-mother. sobeille measured it distrustfully.

at times in sobeille's life, it had been easy to lie. it had come to her as natural as catching fish.

and at other times in her life, it had been easy to disguise her emotions. this skill too, came as easy as killing for your meal.

she wondered if this woman was a master of such things; but the outburst thumbed holes into that illusion.

perhaps this woman was what sobeille was shaping up to be in a few years if left unchecked: artful manipulator of feelings, master of conveying only the singular vision they wished to be seen.

another step back. another hard scowl.

i tol' you what i be knowin'. sobeille said, wondering when the next hammer would fall. mebbe you are not de mot'er you t'ink you be, if she be comin' to me wit' her secrets.