Heron Lake Plateau A beating heart of stone.

as a silence lulled over them, the sylph realized perhaps her query had been misplaced. certainly it was an insensitive one, but the wretch was one who wished to know the whys of the world. she had heard of whelps being born with no eyes, and mothers faced with hard decisions. when they were that young, death came easily; a press of a paw, a rough shake, a toss in a river..

for a moment she wondered if she had what it takes to commit such an unnerving deed. being born without a sense was hardship enough on the whelp cursed to bear it - but it was torment for those who had to feed it, care for it, and ultimately, commit it back to the dry earth when its loss cost it the ultimate price.

 she would have chucked them in the grotto's pool, and moved on.

towhee seemed fine though. caiaphas supposed that was the boon of having a strong pack. certainly, the dark she-wolf was not without her assets -- caiaphas had noted in her time here towhee was no slouch.

her internal musings were cut short by towhee's words; she wondered if she had offended the beta, but in typical wretch fashion, did not apologize. caiaphas assumed it was not the first, nor last time, that the callous question would be asked. she dipped her head in silent rejoinder, watching with a neophyte's bemused mystification as towhee so fluently signed to her. if she had known bye she might have returned the farewell physically; as it was she simply canted her muzzle again and offered a quick "see you later," - hopefully before the beta's back was entirely turned.