Going down on my back in my own riptide

noise outside would make her look out. spotting someone going to the lake, Dutch would frown. from their body language and their angry shrieking, they were upset. it was a larger woman, her own post-pregnancy fat marking her a parent. she hadn't been aware of any other mothers in Ashen outside of Deathbelle and Circe - though the latter was nowhere to be found. she exited the mouth of her den, her kids sound asleep after some time playing and wrestling. she could leave them for a bit to head out for a drink. she didn't really give a shit if the other woman was upset; she'd never seen her before, never had her visit and didn't know anything about her.

so if she had kids, she'd never seen 'em around. they certainly didn't play with her three. it was the only thing Dutch thought to do; absorb herself into her children's lives so she didn't feel so miserable anymore. a last look to make sure her three were still asleep and she marched to the water. by the time she got there, the other woman was resting on a rock. ignoring her for now, Dutch bent her head down and drank deeply. Hannibal had been bringing her water-soaked moss but nothing felt better than actually lapping up the liquid herself straight from the source. it felt cold and welcomed on her dry lips. running a tongue over her jaws to catch any stray water, she'd sit down and try to groom herself for once.