Bearclaw Valley Friends, or Foes?

Avicus is also arriving in this post -- still very far away!

she's been following her father's scent, looking to see if he'd be up for another hunt. his scent leads toward the borders, though, and perhaps he can teach her more about the tensions that seem so prevalent lately. she follows it at a slow trot, in no hurry. yet.

as the ground flattens out and she's able to see across the distance, she notices a group of wolves gathered. her stomach tightens—it's the skirmish at the standing stones all over again. shouting, and then she sees the woman—she looked familiar, yes?—seize a shadow in her jaws and begin to fling it about. 

at first, Avicus thinks it's one of the dead mother's whelps. but the body is too big for that, and so—

NO!

heart pounding, she quickens into a gallop, running heedlessly along the trail to the mouth of the valley. she sees red. she doesn't know what she'll do upon arrival; all she knows is she has to get there, and soon.

and she sees her mother ahead, also running (good!). despite Astara's injuries, Avicus still isn't strong or swift enough to catch her up, and follows the blur of her dark tail.

the seconds feel like hours. the wind feels like teeth against her face.