Otatso Wetlands Break free and leave us in ruins

Stag would have quailed before the terrible sight of Mahler's burning gaze, were it not for Wylla besides him. Wylla, who encouraged him day by day to be better -- Wylla, who in this moment, was in more danger than she knew.

He didn't profess to understand that look, but it knifed him just the same.

Stag's limbs steadied from their shaking as Wylla's pelt pressed against him. Whatever he felt for Mahler then was stripped away as the man turned his sights to Zane, lurching ahead in a terrible snarl that even Stag struggled to resist flinching from.

He did not move -- his feet firm against the snow and his body firm against Wylla -- as he waited for Zane to either return the threat or fight. Stag did not trust either, and therefore would not turn away first -- better for him to bring up the rear than for him to turn his back to them (and Wylla) and all hell break loose.