Mudminnow River shrike

sun eater fixed ghelan with a bleak stare, one forbidding yet suffused with a comprehension that only they shared between them. he had not spoken ill of her; their son was only sensitive to her mentions.

that amulet! he wanted to break it, but he knew its destruction would only drive ghelan aside and perhaps bring evil down upon his own head.

and it was the same it seemed for suliya, whose brief surprise was met with an amused glint to his slate eye. perhaps she did not understand the politics between they and the sharadoii, and he found this enjoyable. refreshing.

"i do not doubt these names," sun eater spoke, turning the breadth of his focus back toward suliya. "kavik is a cousin. we hunted once as children."

he did not smile, but his gaze was warm.

"there are other lanzadoii kin here besides myself and ghelan. sulukinak is my niece. meleys is my sister. and your brother, i will hold his name as stricken. it was a bad thing that was done. may his hunters leave him."

ragged ears swung to hear the caribou. "will you stay, suliya? or will you continue to follow them alone?"