Silvertip Mountain the bells

what has happened?

Merrick, finally, and her red-rimmed eyes snap upward, haunting pools of indigo. ma, she whispers, and it is only with a deep inhale that she continues louder, in ragged tones. mama. hurhh-dt. bleeh-ing. whih' womanh. bigh manh.

the unencumbered "ess" will forever be elusive, but she sticks her tongue out, clasped between her teeth, and makes a horrible hissing sound leading into:

tthhhhhainths.

a prickling sensation on her nape, then, as if she's being watched. she looks around and turns to ice as she discovers that she is, in fact, being watched. their eyes meet, and she's silent for a moment.

but this is bigger than them. bigger than all of them. 

mama, she says again. he'll know what it means.