Ravensblood Forest The one that will occasionally openly steal babies

merrick strode away in stiff coughs, followed only by astara's gaze. what was he to do with this child? what was his purpose? her tongue thumbed curiously at the tip of her teeth, but she made no move to follow.

he came back, settled now. the boy was still unmoving; had astara not heard the light flutter of his breath she would have thought him dead. in time he would wake, but for now he was beyond the realm of those that walked this world.

merrick moved to worry the child's neck. astara stepped back, filled with a strange calm. where merrick seemed tangibly excited by his new plaything, astara seemed to take it in stride; as if this were simply another day, another mark. one could argue it was because she did not know the gravity of the situation -- but she did. she glanced around them warily, motioning for merrick to go; she would scout ahead, or follow behind -- and make sure no eyes were watching.