Bearclaw Valley a seminar about whether or not deer feel pain or are just sad

Stryx did not hear a reply directed at her (there hadn't been one) and with a rising panic in her breast, turned again to inspect the wounded leader. He was breathing; a quick touch upon his neck found his pulse. There was blood on his head which was a bad sign - but it did not pool. He wasn't laboring, he was asleep. Stryx knew she had a choice to make: protect the bear prince or stop the culling of an innocent life.

As Arielle's voice carried through the dark again, Stryx was moving swiftly after it.

She hadn't known what her purpose was during the raid that won them these children. There was no understanding the bear for her, or the people that elevated its concept to such extremes. It wasn't her place to question it either; Stryx knew what fanaticism bred, how deeply rooted it could become, and it was not her duty to correct that kind of malignancy.

Or so she had told herself.

Arielle!! Stryx called in to the dark as her reaching steps carried her along, seeking the woman's strong scent. The physician picked up fervor as she found Val's path too, and swept forth to see the dark boy's silhouette. Arielle was close.

Stryx lunged between them and as she stared down Arielle, she knew she had made a choice that would not end well at all. The old woman was no warrior - but she had sworn an oath, once. Do no harm. Somehow during her time here she'd let this slip away.