Porcupine Ridge mica orb

"not know, nutu." muskrat crept closer, thrusting her muzzle close to their newest taken. she had not missed the demand; she did not like its sound nor the sullenness of the boy.

of course she had taken him. who else had been there?

"pichiswa. sparrow-boy." her eyes beheld him so close, taking in each flutter of her captive's expression. "what you say? eat and stay? or run and die? sharp teeth in vale below. wild cats in stone places." she shrugged; she could tie sparrow, beat him, but it was energy wasted if he would only try to flee in escalation. better to blacken his consciousness and leave him elsewhere if he acted so.