Stone Circle he is without a heart

rolls are here

a black bolt hurled towards polaris, intercepted by west's advancement.

the thundering arrival of another (others'?) was ignored; astara had time, she had ---

greyback came between them. fine --if he was so deadset on placing himself in harm's way like a fool, what was directed at polaris would be doled out to greyback instead.

he was but one ancient wolf, and they were the many -- astara did not blink did not hesitate did not flinch as she drove her teeth for the crone's muzzle or eyes or scruff -- meat was meat and anything would do; punish him make him bend yield cry bleed die

astara had no fear for this male or his soft-eared compatriot;  both were advanced in years, soft around the eyes and ears -- pushovers. their commands meant nothing to the blackbird, and she snorted at their presumption she would be a good samaritan and listen to their old voices and pleas -- AS IF ONE OF THEIR OWN HAD NOT FELLED ROSINA

she would have driven against greyback immediately and felt the crush of geriatric bones between her teeth, were it not for avicus' form in her periphery.

avicus did not belong here, not in this court of bedlam. 

but it was too late to change the trajectory -- astara lunged then for the broad muzzle of greyback, teeth glistening in the dull late summer light.