Firefly Ravine there in the smoke

No miracle came to scoop little Ghenaya from the jaws of the thief, so Other Shore kept chasing.

A child's cry sounded ahead of her, quickening her pace. Exhaustion had not quite caught up to her yet, so she sought to do whatever she could before it reduced her muscles to twigs.

Running, panting, pushing through the strain of chaos to save one of the few innocents in the war. She did not dare to think of what would happen if she lost Ghenaya. Star Eater would be devastated - beyond that, even.

Then - the woman stopped.

Other Shore felt a stumble in her pace as she, too, came to slow down, trying to find what had stopped her. A chasm opened up before them, but... why not run elsewhere? She shook away the thought and scanned the area - no visible threats, no other wolves. 

Slowly, she suppressed what fear she had as her gaze turned to Ghenaya, who was now still squirming. Muscles tightened; she hesitated, then took a step forward. And then another. Step by step, closing in on the thief. Claws prepared, body low, tail rigid. But she did not attack quite yet. No, she did not want to throw herself and Ghenaya in the way of harm so quickly, when the little one was so vulnerable and she herself had a woefully small sliver of experience in battle. 

So she did what she was best at. Asking questions. Turmoil still riddled her mind. Star Eater had told her what was happening, but she did not know why so much blood was being spilt in the heart of Saatsine. 

Step by step, she told herself. Step by step. Not too close now, but close enough to be sure that the woman could hear her.

Why? she asked, her voice exposing her genuine confusion as she tried to hide her fear. Why strip a mother of her right to be with her children? Is Star Eater wrong for wishing her children safety from war, for telling her husband to not engage in violence only days after she has given birth? Her voice lowered. Am I wrong for believing that is the wish of every mother?