Bearclaw Valley [M] they breathe you in, and dive as deep as they can

;_;

He stood huddled beside his brother as they cowered, watching in confusion and terror as the mothers clashed — a mountain versus a shade. The odd metallic scent that hung in the air began to strengthen, first with the tearing of Astara's flesh and then again as she landed that fateful blow.

For a moment it looked like they had froze mid-battle, locked in a savage embrace with Ikkalrok held by the throat between the jaws of her combatant. Astyanax didn't dare even breathe. Then suddenly there was the awful sound of something tearing, crunching, splattering upon earth and fur alike, followed by an almighty thump as their mother fell unceremoniously to the ground.

The boy could only stare, his heart a jackhammer in his tiny chest. Silence, before an utterance from the one-eyed male as he slunk towards his murderous love. Not that Ikkalrok's spawn could comprehend what murder was just yet, of the ramifications of what had happened. No, he only stared at what was once his mother — a rough, aggressive, monstrous beast — but his mother all the same.

"Mm-mnnuh!" he called for her, taking a daring step forward towards the lifeblood that seeped slowly towards the den. Finally, he tore his wide, frightened gaze from the crumpled form of Ikkalrok, and focused upon the one who had torn out her throat.