When the child snapped back she laughed, obviously he hadn't yet heard of Isolde, Skana, Kanosak, Guiness, Semananti, or Narcissa and how many more had perished since then? The world was not a kind place, least of all to the Willow wolves. "Do yer know how many bodies yer walk by day after day?" She stepped closer to the child, not minding that at 6 months old he already stood over her by a good inch. She was well practiced in looking down her nose at those taller than her. Her voice got lower as she closed the distance between them, "Don't yer ever worry one day they might wake up?" She paused for effect, her voice suddenly booming, "Ter grab yer!" and again at a more normal level, "as yer simply walkin' by?"

"They were strong wolves. Guiness took on a cougar on 'is own ter protect Elettra while she was givin' birth. Do yer think anyone that's livin' 'ere now could be so brave?" her head tilted in a way that indicated she already knew the answer was no. "Yer'll have ter try harder if yer want ter be worthy o' th' ground on which yer walk. Others 'ave paid fer it with their lives."