Duskfire Glacier Bring it

Artok looked at her and gave her a strange look. Don't promise me such things please Miss. Scarlett. There's a very real chance I'll lose my home. Especially if Malachi doesn't have the back bone to stand up to Tuwawi. I met her daughter you know. And she's just as nasty, so if they both are walking around like that. Then clearly Malachi lets them do what they want, and we don't matter.

He felt a taste like ash in his mouth at those words. Bitter and repugnant as it was. He had come out of the encounter with both the fire females feeling like he was lacking as an individual, and it smarted.

Artok struggled to his front paws, though he whined at the pain that tore through the one. He lapped gently at the water, then looking back towards the den. He painfully turned towards it. He had enough sunlight for the day, he didn't want to be anywhere near any of the light anymore. He wanted darkness and bitterness.