Redtail Rise Þief

despite her insistence on their joining, Avicus would not completely hang her children out to dry. she gave an aggravated chuff toward Relic at his lateness but hurried him along with the others, keeping them to her flank opposite the herd. 

and she'd keep them as far from pounding hooves and frightful antlers as she could, her own hide be damned. into the frying pan, but not necessarily the fire. not yet.

the fleet-footed adults and the trio of children lope down the hill, approaching the herd in a sharp formation to try and cut the cow from her family. Avicus knows Aventus is courageous, Ashlar less so—at least in the hunt.

but she'd seen how the healer has looked at her children.

keep 'em 'hhhafe, she tells Ashlar, pitching her voice over the wind whistling past their ears, with a jerk of her head toward the youths. 

order thus given, she'll move as one with Aventus to strike first blood.

I'll give this round until Monday evening!