Redtail Rise israfel

one by one, the reactions come.

Redd—loyal Redd. there'd never been any doubt in her mind of her daughter's reply. and Mulherin, too!

but then Masque speaks, imploring, and Avicus turns to face the ruddy-countenanced young woman. and on the face of it all, her words make sense.

Avicus's eyes follow the gesture toward the nearby peak, and linger there for a while. her lips firm in solemn thought.

Wanderer echoes the very yearning of her heart. of course they should go now! we are Redtail Rise!

and Avicus finds that she may just, in fact, have the numbers she'd assumed lacking—just as Carrion and Redsky voice their reluctance to depart (though not with such gusto as Wanderer).

a new, less familiar scent comes to her on the breeze, and she spins round again to find another has arrived—the young man she'd met briefly before, before being taken in upon the Rise.

not her child. not any blood to her (if only she knew).

but here.

ridge, she decides, nodding toward Masquerade. regroup. 'hey 'hhould leave, Avicus agrees, giving a bow of her head toward Wanderer as well.

wise, fierce daughters of mine.

buh' hhey migh' nohh' now, wi'ou a figh', she warns. an' i won' figh' Augur an' hih' family, if he'h picked Lilia over me.

she rolls her shoulders back, squaring herself. takes a steadying breath and a purposeful step toward Nova Peak.

maybe he can be rea'hhoned wi', Avicus ponders, and her eyes once more rest upon Masquerade—the most loquacious of them all.

will you 'htry?