ELRETH
Elreth started walking again, but slowly.
"Excuse me?" Her mother's voice was quiet, but the word were bitten out and the nine year old still inside Elreth quailed. "Do you have something to say to me, young lady?"
They continued along the trail—but only for a few steps. They'd reached the Weeping Tree and Elreth stalked towards the massive tree, shoving aside the curtain of delicate branches and leaves to give herself entry, her mother hot on her heels. It gave her a moment to brace and put her shoulders back.
She was Queen, she reminded herself. Alpha. Of all. Just as powerful as her father had ever been—whether everyone recognized it or not. Whether her mother liked it or not. So when she reached the open area under the Weeping Tree, near the trunk, where the branches started high up and there was plenty of room, she turned on her heel to face her mother and folded her arms.
