Deepwood Weald histriophoca

The panther felt as if he'd swallowed a lump of ice, chilled to the core not just by his shadow girl's words, but by the almost casual tone she spoke them in. His expression remained impassive, but he was quiet for a long moment while an unusual swell of malevolence swept through him. For a moment, he thought he might hate Sulukinak's mother. He wanted her to answer for the things that she'd taught Sulukinak and the way in which she'd damaged her, and most especially for the innocent lives she'd surely ended. In the next moment a terrible guilt gripped him; he was sure that it was no sane and properly cared for mind that had thought to murder her own children.

"Sedna cannot have them," he said, speaking when he was sure that his tone would be only resolute instead of vehement. "They will be ours, all of them." There was a pause, and then he clarified: "Mine." Because, suddenly, allowing Sulukinak any claim to the children was a harrowing thought.

Though he did a good job of hiding it, Dutch was frightened by this revelation. He was worried about what Sulukinak might do. So he made his tone even and waited to see if she would disagree.