Ariadne was a part of the group that came to divvy the materials from the bison. She'd never worked with such a surplus of material before but relished in the challenge that breaking down such a large animal would bring.
She took to skinning one of the smaller ones, starting at its belly. She was meticulous as she removed the hide from the body, honing in on her work and shutting out the hustle and bustle around her.
pleased with the prospect of valiant joining moonglow and perhaps vairë, kukutux found herself outside the healing camp once more, directing supplies to where the other packs had made their stead.
it felt a rare moment that moonmother found ariadne away from kigipigak and she did not hesitate to join her daughter at the carcass, drawing her teeth in experienced movements to slice more deeply.
softly she began a working-song, one maybe remembered from childhood;
careful now, the herd is sleeping
wandering tired from a day of leaping
hush! listen? what do you hear?
i hear the hunters returning near
they will be tired from a day of leaping
quiet, children, the hunters are sleeping
Kukutux and her working song were just the things that drew Ariadne from her work. Though, at first, she did not cease her work; she began to humm until that melody became the song she hadn't heard in moons.
careful now, the herd is sleeping
wandering tired from a day of leaping
hush! listen? what do you hear?
i hear the hunters returning near
they will be tired from a day of leaping
quiet, children, the hunters are sleeping
She sang a few rounds of this, becoming more distracted as her voice boomed happily; Kaluktuk was rubbing off on her. Eventually, grinning ear-to-ear, she gave a great belly laugh and turned to her anaa with twinkling eyes. It is good to see your face, anaa,
she said.
"and it is good to see your own, ariadne," kukutux exhaled, feeling many things ease in her chest at once.
her voice was louder! her daughter was happy, and this delighted the duck though she still feared kigipigak would not stay.
would break another heart.
"already the air is changing. spring is not yet here, but soon a time of great celebration will come."
With an exhale, Ariadne released the anxiety that'd been gripping her chest since their last meeting. It'd lessened when she received the parcel from Valiant, but, now, being face-to-face, she felt much better about her standing with Kukutux. She leaned over and bumped her shoulder against her mother's whining as her tail wagged behind her.
She withdrew when anaa spoke again and nodded. There are many things to be excited for,
she agreed. I just hope this silly leg will be better in time for all the fun,
she held it out in front of her and shook it. Do you think it will be?
kukutux perhaps was sensitive to flippancy given how kigipigak had announced his bond with her daughter in that forest. when ariadne spoke of 'fun,' she fought the close of her face and turned her eyes over the leg.
"it has mended well. straight, like a willow sapling. be careful when the bindings are ready to be taken off. make gentle steps for a time."
she knew that valiant had brought her medicines to ariadne; after a pause the duck spoke directly of what was between them. "the red tea is for you alone. when your fire-time comes, drink it once in the morning and once before you sleep for the night. do this for the sacred seven days. after this, drink it once for nine afternoons. it will help you to keep from exhaustion during the fire-time and open your womb so you are able to conceive. after this, it will bind the children as they grow inside you and give them health in the first days of their heartbeats."
she spoke evenly though her pulse pounded and once more she grated in loathing for kigipigak; but in this way she would show to ariadne her support of their bond.
Ariadne sighed a breath of relief; her leg was mending well. Do you think it is time to take off the cast?
she asked next, unsure of the timeline. Or should I visit you in a moon or so to get it removed?
She could also easily take it off herself, but she would need to be told how to do so.
Although the topic of medicine continued, the subject matter diverged to Araidne's fire-time, and she listened with rapt interest; she was thankful she’d brought the parcel with her. While she wasn't sure when her time would come, she had been feeling different, for lack of better words, and wondered if it had to do with it.I have been feeling weird, anaa,
she admitted to her mother, suddenly thankful that she’d brought the tea. I am happy one moment, sad the next, hungry, bloated—it all feels so impossible to deal with when this is such a fun time!
"come to me, or i to you," the duck said softly.
ariadne had felt such changes. kukutux had sensed them. "your scent is not the same. your body is readying itself. rest. drink much water. there is only a small time to wait."
and then she would be engaged in the same pursuits which had been her interests thus far, though with a terminal end to such desires when the sickness started.
the duck hoped each child of hers carried an easy pregnancy. the sea-girl still weighed upon her mind, each day, and it was why she had made such overtures to ariadne: she would not lose another new mother to the blood of childbirth.
Ariadne nodded. I will come to you, anaa,
it'd been long since she'd been to Moonglow, and it'd be nice to see everybody back at home. Make a trip of it and stay a few days.
When advised on what to do before her season, Ariadne noted it all. Although a massive pack-gathering wasn't an ideal time to take it easy, she'd heed her mother's advice and ready her body for her season. And when it is time? Should I do anything differently?
she asked.
there was a knowing light to her eyes. "your body will command you; you will seek what you have not before."
even though she had lain with a man already, this time would be restorative; it was its own beginning.
softly she reached a paw to touch ariadne's cheek if allowed; she glowed in pride and love, and returned to their work and their song.