Bearclaw Valley when the sunlight is arising

little astyanax managed a snarl as the adults composed around him; astara gave him the barest of looks before peering curiously into averna's face. she had always been able to read some part of her sister's thoughts by her expressions, but even now she could not tell if averna understood - until she spoke.

the boy was proferred forward. astara's tail swung low to her hocks in confirmation -- should averna accept these children that were not her own, maybe there would be some redemption for astara when it came to her children's relationships.