Moonglow came into view and Amalia felt tears spring to her eyes at the sight of it. She had made it, in exactly the time she had offered. She stood staring around her in awe on shaky limbs.
Blood from the fawn mixing into her obsidian fur, salt and ocean water heavy on her scent, and sand in every crevice imaginable. She would need a serious bath after this, but she had done it. She panted gently after she had lain her burdens down.
She tipped her head back with a gentle howl for
@Kukutux, she had a message from Natigvik. Then while she waited she organized the items she had brought for their allies.
rabbits furs for dens and shoulders.
Sword Fern plant for herbal medicines-quicken childbirth for mother's who had labored long, sores and sore throats.
Blackberries to eat with tallow and their roots to help with sores and pain and throats and coughs.
And her prize was the fawn that lay nearby. She slowly began to separate the fur from it's body, because she knew the moment she stopped moving she would collapse. She had not honored her promise to not push herself to hard, because the thought of leaving her found family without her, for too long had been too much to bear.
Callyope had become the spirit of Moonglow.
She drifted to and fro, traveling the touching areas. Heartache had taken root in her chest and while she had no desire to be gone from home long, the breaks were welcomed. She had intended to slip away today. Only to find that somebody from Natigvik had come.
Amalia.
She looked tired, with a great many gifts spread around.
She blinked softly in wonder.
Amalia is here?
"amalia."
moonwoman's voice was filled with concern.
"what has happened?" her eyes invited the woman closer. she was grateful for callyope's presence.
jadestone eyes took in the things the blackfur had brought, and kukutux was reminded of the first hour she had come to moonglow, and stood before the clan ostrega to be judged wife.
The first to greet her was the sweet moon child Callyope. Amalia dropped the fawn and chuffed and leaned forward to greet the girl if she would allow.
Hello Callyope. Have you been telling everyone all the stories you collect?
Amalia's tail wrapped around behind her, slowly wagging. And for a brief moment, their problems didn't seem so large, but yet they did. It was with the sight of the moonwoman herself, that Amalia gave a small tremble and bowed her head. She moved foward a bit and lay her head against the pale wolf, then backed up to speak.
I apologize for my appearance Moonwoman, but I don't wish to tary. I was sent by Sakhmet with a message. Kigipigak was called back to Tartok and he departed almost immediately upon our return to Natigvik. We are down Cerne as you probably know. It is simply Sakhmet, myself and a male wolf named Lestan Mayfair who reside with Akkuma and Kivaluk. I was also to ask if it would be prudent to continue with the hunt in the winter months, or if we should have a fall one instead?
Amalia smiled at her and motioned towards the gifts. But I brought gifts. Rabbit furs for shoulders and dens, This sword fern and blackberry for your medicinal caches and the berries for your tallow. And I just caught the fawn to share with you I was attempting to separate the skin from the meat for to dry as well.
Amalia's paws stung and she wanted to sit down, but she knew if she did she woudl fall asleep. She would need to rest this evening, but she hoped to be off in the next day or so, she hated leaving the two to guard the borders by themselves.
Any who listens.
Her tail waved softly as well and welcomed an exchange of touch. The leaf-eyed woman was a welcomed face to the sadness her heart felt these days.
Although, as expected, they were not alone long. Moonwoman never dallied and it inspired Callyope greatly each time to witness.
One day, she thought.
Amalia dived into a thicket of words. Callyope understood, but her own grasp on speaking was loose. Favoring mother tongue. Awe-struck by how one could speak common at such a grand length.
Her eyes fluttered to her mother.
winterhawk, sent away.
kukutux still did not understand all the ways of tartok. but it sounded as though sakhmet had acceptance in this.
their numbers had fallen.
she thought upon this.
"there is the village sacrarium. maybe we will arrange a hunt when the leaves fall between all of us."
more to consider.
"but now, i think that i will send hunters to the river-place." sandulf came to her mind.
sakhmet asked for her in natigvik. "are there dangers around your village, amalia?"
Amalia smiled at the girl. I'm glad to hear it, Callyope. Your heart sings of stories and I love that you listen.
Callyope could have been her mother's daughter. She was more like her own mother than Amalia was, but yet there was a difference to the spirit of Callyope, a sadness hanging on her body. Though she did not understand what it was or why.
Amalia swallowed and looked to Callyope and then to Kukutux. She looked down and spoke her voice hushed.
Yes. A female was attacked near our borders by a young male. Her friend went to find him, while we helped to heal her. We fear for what had or would have happened, were Sadey not a fighter as she is.
Amalia thought of the dark furred wolf void again. I cannot be sure of his name, but I believe him to be a wolf that Kigipigak chased away from me by the name of Void.
Something in Callyope stilled greatly.
She dreaded the thought of Mo missing on such an affair, but she reminded herself. He would surely return one day.
His spirit only hunted, not vanished.
Moonwoman and Riverwoman spoke of dangers. Attacks.
Her throat tightened, she looked away but remained.
void. an attack. kukutux lifted her chin.
"come. we will help you carry these things. you must rest, amalia."
and in the interim, she would decide what was to be done.
moonwoman moved to gather medicines.
Thank you.
Amalia nodded and shouldered the fawn again. If Callyope could carry the rabbit furs, they would all share in the burdens. It felt good to have allies of willingness to help.
She stepped foward on shaky paws. Perhaps moonwoman was right. Maybe she should rest. The pads of her paws a bit raw.
A river would sort them right out and she could leave in the morning maybe? Would Kukutux let her?
She fretted silently afraid, so afraid to leave her found family at the borders without her.
Callyope would take whatever her mother did not.
Eager to carry the bulk of the weight so that Amalia would not need to.
The woman's tiredness was hardly a secret.
She hummed a soft song around the furs in her mouth in a method to soothe the far northern woman.
"i will take the skins to the lake tomorrow."
they would keep.
when they arrived, she offered dried sticks of elk-meat to amalia. "eat. you will sleep in my ulaq tonight."
she gave a smile to callyope, for her womanly mien in welcoming the river-wolf so warmly.
Amalia lay the fawn at the feet of the leader. Relieving herself of the burden. She attempted to lick some of the blood from her fur. The salty tang on her tongue. She didn't do much good.
Amalia took a gentle bite, though she was more tired than hungry. I appreciate it Moonwoman. I will head back as soon as I can. I hate the thought of leaving so little there.
Amalia nudged Callyope gently. We must trade stories again you and I.
You will sleep in anaa's ulaq. I will tell you stories there.
She said this with a small smile, directed for both her mother and Amalia.
She remembered there had been a woman's circle once with the women of Natigvik. Words shared among them not for men's ears.
For a moment, she felt that sensation here between the three of them.
Her sun gaze turned towards moonwoman, did she feel it too?
yes.
this was felt.
and it had been too long since the time of moonglow's circles.
she thought of autumn and winter.
"it is good that women live beside water. that way, they always draw from life."
Amalia felt the closeness yhat she had since arriving into moonglow as a giest, now found family. She drew upon that bonded strength to get her to the Ulaq.
is it because women carry life?
Amalia blinked thinking and trying to follow.
She was growing and morphing into a woman of Moonglow.
But she was not yet.
Moonwoman was and she turned her ears toward her anaa. Shoulder offered to Amalia.
amalia was swift! "yes. and sakhmet is issumatar. so it was she who made the choice of your river."
she longed to see it.
"you must leave soon." it was not a request, only an observation. amalia had come quickly, but sakhmet would need her at the qeya.
Amalia nodded. Very well. I will sleep. Please wake me at dawn if I dont wake on my own.
Amalia dipped her head. Thank you Callyope. It is a fine day to see you at yhe borders in greeting.
Amalia would fond a place amd settle after that. Sleeping until morning and then leave.
last from callyope <3
I will see you when you go.
Callyope saw all now, she realized. She saw the driftings of Moonglow, those of beyond. Her gaze had grown in the absence of those nearest.
She moved, with a kiss to her mother, to sort the gifts that Amalia had brought.