wakeup call

Corbie had stayed overnight at the border of Tornach's family's pack to give herself some time to plan her trip. She'd chosen deliberately to stay in the estuary side of Valhalla's borders, because as a lifelong hunter she'd learned a very important fact.

Songbirds were loud, annoying, and when you bundled flocks of them in with flocks of waterfowl, you were going to be up with the sun.

When the racket of this natural alarm clock penetrated the shroud of sleep, Corbie sighed and stretched, blinking minty eyes open to view the winter sun's rays glittering on the cold waters of the estuary. She was traveling light for speed, so she had nothing to pack as she rose for the morning. The movement startled a duck and sent him quacking for the water, and started an even louder ruckus amongst the birds as they took alarm.

Ignoring them, she began picking her way across the marshy lands, edging close to the border to follow it back around to firmer, drier land.