Sunbeam Lair iii. protect yourself for none else shall

she has not sought advice concerning her pregnancy, and so it is easy to ignore the painful spasms, to continue living as she used to without pausing to consider them. it is what she does that day, leaving for the first time in a fortnight the creek and journeying towards the mountains. they are familar, and comforting, and so she slips into the lair in the hopes of finding some quarry there. 

it is not some meal she finds, but a woman, almost eerie in her countenance and seemingly pulling away from the shadows as if made from them. dawn pauses, ears perked in her direction and gaze on her, and offers a chuff in greeting. she seeks to test the response of the stranger before proceeding any nearer. she knows some would rather simply pass by, intersect briefly and draw apart once more.