Qeya River time for dying

the storm inside her brother was almost palpable, and star eater felt every word he spat like a physical blow. her chest tightened, her breath coming shallow as his accusations lashed against her. his voice, that once brought her comfort, now tore through her like jagged glass.
her gaze didn’t rise to meet his—not at first. she stood frozen, her body stiff with tension, the weight of his fury pressing down on her. gjalla’s intervention was a lifeline, a tether keeping her from crumbling under the weight of it all. the sharpness of gjalla’s voice cut through the chaos, creating a space for her to breathe, to think.
when the silence finally settled, her eyes lifted, catching stark's fiery golden gaze. her own were no longer filled with the softness of the sister he once knew but with a quiet, resolute strength.
you speak of treachery. her voice was low, measured, trembling at the edges but firm at its core. and yet you seem to forget what the king consort had done. he raised his army, broke through the walls, and bludgeoned your kin before your queens eyes. she stepped closer, past gjalla’s protective stance, her tail stiff and her chin lifted.
you have no idea, her voice cracked, but she pressed on, no idea what loss is.
she exhaled sharply, her gaze flicking to gjalla briefly before landing back on him. the scent of her husband clung to her like armor, and she clutched at the thought of him now.
she took a step back, her gaze unyielding. you spit where the land dries. where life grows inside— i have created something new! she looks for him— for sun eater! come to me, cometomecometome, help me!
and he did! her great beast of a husband leapt through the trees with a roar, pinning her brother to the ground. snow caught, a mist of white flashing before them. she moved to stand beside him, her husband, atop of her brother like this. she would not stop him. for her brother was cruel, undeserving— she did not know who he was. not any longer. a stranger cast in his pearlescent furs.
i am not a queen any longer, she continued, her voice hardening. i am the chieftain’s wife. i am star eater of saatsine. and if you cannot see past your rage long enough to understand why, then he will make it so.
to her love, she asked of him, if he does not submit, you rip his words from his throat. the lanzadoii had come fast, spurting from her lips like a fire she did not know she was capable of. brother or no, he threaten our cubs. new life, you said? new us, for us, husband.