Mudminnow River the goddess will provide

a voice came then, startling her out the gibbering madness, in which she rambled on about divine teeth certain to crush her for her impiety and grind her flesh into a fine black powder.

the bearwoman's eyes rolled around the rims of her sockets until her gaze came to rest upon a man. a boy, truly. a most unassuming specimen, brown and solid, with nothing to make the eye linger upon him.

too young, was the thought that disappointed her most.

she realised with quite some delay that the words the boy spoke were a question. what it was exactly, she couldn't recall. it was as if a thick fog had engulfed her mind, and to think further would be to lose herself in it.

irrelevant.

the beardog ambled - nearly stumbled - towards the brunette boy, then began an attempt to fully circle him. observing from each angle for signs of maturity.

she found him lacking.

"tell me... child..." her voice was a hoarse rasp. "which deity blesses the women?"