Sunspire Mountains ivory cups

there was an unclaimed place of earth and field between the ridge and the vale, and muskrat had set about piling cairns of stone here and there in this place, flagrant with their scent.

but she did not hunt in this place; she did not mark it with her own scent nor strop her paws against the sparse trees there. the cairns were to say 'let us have peace here,' and soon she had completed one, with effort.

her intention was seven of these small pillars — if she was not interrupted.

the citrus eyes kept watch as at last muskrat lay to rest in the shadow of this first accomplishment.