Burning Like Fire

Once, such fear would've gripped her and paralyzed her completely. This man was here to hurt them -- whether it be Novel or their sons. But now, she suddenly felt a fierce rage building in her stomach, her maternal instincts quickly kicking in. All she wanted to do was to protect them and Novel, to get rid of this man and to retreat to safety. The fur along the ridge of her back bristled as she quickly pulled Psalm back, but she soon realized that something awful had happened. Hymn had loped forward to join his brother, bristling with the contagious anger of his mothers, before Lel grabbed him and pinned him tightly against his leg.


Ara's initial reaction was to strike. To hurt the man that had done this to Novel, that had dared to return to-- to what? To seek retribution for something? To take back children he thought were his own? A sneer found its way onto her lips, an ugly expression that she wasn't sure she had ever worn before, her anger coming forth suddenly and with little abandon. The man said he wanted to speak -- Ara had to contain herself from rushing forward, eying Lel unblinkingly, unwilling to let him harm Hymn if she could help it. What could he possibly want to say? The woman felt angry tears well in her eyes as she stood and waited, tense and alert.