Alaya tumbled and hit the ground, but jumped back up and continued walking straight away. The infant had been learning to walk lately and hadn’t quite mastered it. She stumbled and fell a lot but never cried and always pulled herself back up.
Brynna watched from a distance, sat perched in a tree with her bushy tail hanging down and twitching. Katnya knew the lynx would keep the girl safe, for it was all she had ever done. Katnya sat outside in the sun washing her clothes with one eye on her child. It was an oddly warm day for early winter, but welcome.
One of the village guards waved to her as he patrolled past, and she gave a stiff nod back. She had spoken to very few people here in Hookworth for the last few months. Not since Alfmaer left. She had become a recluse since. Leaving her small house to go shopping and wash the clothes Alfmaer had used to do. It was a far cry from her old job.
She pondered the large axe sat inside the house, gathering dust and rusting away slowly. Perhaps one day she would it again. Perhaps.
