possibly potentially protect potential

It was uncanny, the way the girl could identify others by the sound of their footsteps, by scent and sound others couldn't detect at the distances she could. Modesty didn't let it unnerve her, perhaps it was just a blessing in another form, though she worried for the clear cost that had been wrought on her daughter. Hers now Jael was gone. Never theirs.

She crossed to the furs and curled around her pale child, only pausing to right a stray tuft of pale fur as she inhaled deeply, making an effort to chase the tension from her muscles, put aside her worries and focus on this moment. She hadn't been sure the girl would make it this far and now she had, well, there were still dangers to her, but Modesty had faith she could hold her own for long enough for one of the others to come to her aid.

"What is it you wish to know dear one? I feel your uncle has Abraxas covered better than I ever could, but I have heard other stories of creation in my travels... I could tell you of the water wagtail, or those that believe we owe creation to the ravens?" Sacrilege really, but an interesting story all the same.

"speech"