Ankyra Sound you can’t save me

It wasn’t just the words that cut her, but the way Sobeille said them. Her soulless tone reminded Tiuttuk of her place, inferring that she neither belonged here, nor had any claim on the pups. She felt them like a knife directly to the heart, severing everything she thought she knew about her role in all this.

The reasoning added insult to injury, though Treepie could scarcely comprehend responding to it. What could she say in answer to such an illogical sentiment? How could she try to reason with Sobeille when her motivations were beyond unreasonable? She’d brought up this ritual as if it was as harmlessly routine as praying or reading bones.

I may not be their anaa, nor even their relative, Pie said, chest heaving as her maimed heart pounded, but I have been here every step of the way. I thought that meant something to you. The words came out bitter, the next few shaky. But just because you don’t value any of that—or me—doesn’t mean I won’t fight to protect those babies.

Treepie would do anything for those children, particularly to keep them safe, though she had never once anticipated having to protect them from their own mother. She swayed a little, feeling like she might be sick, but stiffened her upper lip and everything else. She refused to drop her eyes away, though it was so hard to look at Sobeille now, the sight of her suddenly hideous.