Bearclaw Valley dream-land

dozens of stars later, she rouses with a tiny groan-whimper, stretching out against Astara's abdomen. smacking her lips, she seeks to nurse, unaware of the malevolent presence just outside the den. except—

she is so disoriented from the dream that she cannot find the sustenance she seeks. mewling, Avicus wriggles and finds herself even further from everything familiar. heedlessly rolling toward the entrance to the world beyond. she is scrabbling, struggling, gurgling. . .

perhaps her mother will drag her back before she can really go anywhere. but in the girl's mind, she might as well have traveled a thousand miles from home. unmoored, untethered. she is alone and free and loathes the sensation.