Ariadne hadn't forgotten Sedna's message, but other things had taken priority over seeking her divine friendship. Now that Moontide's altar had been built and they'd begun searching for where they'd establish her village, she found herself thinking more and more about the dream she had. On a whim, while the others were exploring the territory, she decided to call out and try to find the one she was destined to befriend.
Hello?
Is this thing on? Sunwoman of the desert, can you hear me?
She howled.
white rain and a land covered in glacial blues and something that looked as soft and as pale as the clouds. cold, very cold—but a warm woman climbing a peak, who she could not make out. it was a place she had never been, and a face she had never seen, in a world she herself might not survive in. it was the opposite of Akashingo,
and it was a dream! strange, so strange—not a place she was meant to go, or be… but someone else. a story she did not know, but she hoped that the woman might again visit in dreams so that she could see this story unfold.
a story too quickly forgotten. the days moved, and Toula with them—until there was a call! sunwoman. it was not her name, or her epithet, but still she was given pause. she was of the desert—so she listened for the answering call. eavesdropping, perhaps… but the Queen was curious!
Silence—Ariadne frowned. It wasn't the result she'd wanted or anticipated, and she knew she'd have to keep trying until something stuck.
Hello? Sunwoman from the land of sand? Are you there?
she howled.
another call. Toula grinned as she thought of her dream. and in her girlish heart was a silly little whim—one she had not indulged in for some time.
it was not for a Queen to play pretend. but thinking of her dream, she called: woman of the white lands!
"Woman of the White Lands!" a voice replied.
Sunwoman from the Land of Sand!
she nearly cheered. You know me? How do you know me?
the land of sand, yes, that was true! Toula laughed. I do not,
she answered, I am only answering in the way of one dream. I do not think I am Sunwoman!
she would not deceive the other, but did find one thing strange—you are from the white lands?
a coincidence, surely…
Ariadne frowned, finding it strange that Toula knew who she was but claimed she wasn't sunwoman.
I am from the White Lands, yes,
she confirmed. I am Ariadne from village Moonsong—it is very cold and snowy where I am.
Then, she wondered, Is it sandy where you are?
moonsong, a place unknown and once unimagined. she did not know such a place that existed only in white might truly exist, and wondered at the meaning of her dream—the truth it had revealed, perhaps.
yes,
she answered, first in a whisper, then in a howl, yes—I am Queen of the redsands, now. it is usually quite hot, and… snow, it is rare. I am of Akashingo,
fair to share in turn, she felt—and she fell quiet, looking to her fellahin with interest.
Toula was Queen of the Redsands—this news brought a knowing smile to Ariadne's lips. Although she didn't know why she needed to befriend this wolf, she was confident that this was who she was meant to speak to.
Hello, Sunwoman,
she said cheekily.
I had a dream about you, too. It told me that I need to seek friendship in the sun,
there was nothing about pursuing it in the snow, which made Ariadne feel she would have to go on a trip at some point. She laughed then, thinking of how absurd this is! This is crazy, right? I promise I am not crazy. I am just doing what Sedna told me to.