Ariadne, Rodyn, and his children had arrived to
@Sialuk’s ulaq. The children had been cleaned, and now fed from the Head’s breast. She watched them feed with teary eyes.
It is good to see your face, Sistraa,
she said, stealing a glance of her older sister as she broke the silence.
There are many things I wish to discuss—
she hesitated, unable to find the right words,
—congratulations to give, questions to ask …. but they do not feel appropriate.
Still no smile breached Sialuk's face, despite the children who had come from her sister. She looked up only when Ariadne spoke, a sister she did not know well, but a sister just as close as any had been to her heart. It pained Sialuk to know that the children's mother would never know her. That they would grow up never seeing her face, never speaking her name. Never knowing her warmth. Sialuk would provide for them—there was no question in that—but would she ever be able to see them without thinking of sistraa? She did not think so.
Tell me the questions you have,
Sialuk said in their mother's language, weary. She knew that speaking of their troubles would help release the pain, though it would be long before their mourning was truly over.
When she was given permission to speak to her thoughts, Ariadne hesitated again. I do not know what to expect when singing the death songs,
she admitted quietly, prioritizing the concern that chewed at the back of her mind. There would be time for them to catch up once their sistraa was with the dancing lights.
Selfishly, I have to admit that I do not feel prepared and I do not want to mess up. Is there… anything I should be ready for?
Her honeyed eyes watched the children, and her heart broke for them all over again. She hung her head, closing her eyes and shaking her head briefly as she gave in to her grief.
If you are singing for our sister and niece with your heart, they will go be carried to the dancing lights with ease,
Sialuk assured her. She herself had not yet reached a year when she had sung the songs for so many who had fallen upon the mountain on that fateful day. It was not the words or the notes that carried her kin to the afterlife, but the feeling in her heart.
It will be many long nights. Sleep well when you are not singing the songs, and eat well before you begin them. Drink cool water to soothe your throat.
Sialuk wished she could be there with them, but her mourning would come later, on her own. For now, she would remain here with her nephews and see to it that they were properly fed so that they would live long, happy, fulfilling lives. If their birth mother was not here, Sialuk would stand-in for as long as she needed to to give them a good start on life.
If you are singing for our sister and niece with your heart, they will go be carried to the dancing lights with ease. It will be many long nights. Sleep well when you are not singing the songs, and eat well before you begin them. Drink cool water to soothe your throat.
Sialuk explained.
Thank you, sister,
Ariadne took the advice to heart. I will take a quick break on my way back to Moontide to collect supplies and prepare,
she decided. I hope it will give me a distraction from this hurt.
She glanced away as her ears splayed against her head. It was uncomfortable to process these big emotions—especially in front of her sister.
Is there anything I can get you before I go?
She asked, wiping away the tears from her eyes. Or do you have anything you would like me to bring back for the death ulaq?
Bringing something from Moonspear would allow for a part of Sialuk to be there while they sang—even if she was miles away.
Ariadnes thoughtful questions brought warmth to Sialuk's spirit—particularly the last gesture, which even she had not thought of. A pained smile surfaced on the starwoman's face as she turned toward her shrine, plucking a single small bone from the altar. It was one she had often thought of as representing her sisters; having it in the death ulaq would be a reminder that a piece of Sialuk would always be there with her sea-salt sister, even after death. Take this to our sister so she may never be without me,
Sialuk said, placing the small bone in front of Ariadne.
Does Marina still stay with Moontide? How are her children faring?
Sialuk did not know the young woman well, but she had brought her to Rodyn and his wife when Moonspear had been much too full to support another mother. If Sialuk had known that she and Elentari were to have only one child each, she may have changed her mind, but there was no way of knowing that until the time had come. She knew that her sister and Rodyn would take good care of the first-time mother in their coastal village.
Ariadne nodded and pulled the bone towards her. I will,
she promised. I’m sure she will love it.
She looked at it, admiring the emblem that’d connect the two sisters, and she smiled. It is a good choice.
The name that Sialuk spoke did not register with Ariadne, and she frowned. I am afraid that I do not know a Marina,
Rodyn was the only member of Moontide that she knew. Our sister died the day after I arrived—I had not gotten the chance to acquaint myself with the village.
Who is she? I will seek her out when I go back, and pass on any words you may have for her.
Sialuk felt a prick in her heart when Ariadne mentioned the timing of her arrival and their sister's departure from this world. It had to have been difficult on Ari to arrive only to be instantly thrown into such a situation. It would do no good to dwell on this fact, though, and Sialuk was thankful for the question leading away from the larger, heavier topic of Rodyn's wife.
She is a young woman,
Sialuk replied, She was receptive to children, but her elders had not taught her how to avoid such things. Both Elentari and I were expecting our own children then, so I could not bring her to village Moonspear. Moontide was small then, and our sister and Rodyn took her under their care.
It still bothered Sialuk that Marina's village had kept her naive to these things. The starwoman vowed to teach Maggak the ways of life early so that she did not end up in the same situation that Marina had.
Ariadne listened and her frown deepened as Sialuk explained Marina's situation. I see,
she murmured, feeling sad for the woman. I will visit her and bring her and the children furs and a nice meal,
she decided.
I will let you know how they fare when I see your face next,
she promised.
It is good to have you home,
Sialuk said. Even with the darkness that shrouded the moon villages, having a sister return to her people was a blessing that she could not overlook, no matter the circumstances. A woman needs rest,
Sialuk said, apologetic. She was weary from the stress and grieving, not to mention providing for an additional two children among her own. Would you like to rest here, too?
she asked, inviting Ariadne to sleep off some of the traveling if she wished.
She smiled weakly. It is good to be home,
even with everything happening, it was good to be with her family again.
Sialuk invited Ariadne to sleep, and she hesitated. Although she wanted nothing more than to cuddle around her sistraa and her children, she had to return to Moontide for the death songs. Next time,
she promised, kissing her sibling on the forehead. I have to go now.
She left shortly after, carrying the bone as she returned to their departed sister's claim.