galana had waited for the greetings moonglow had offered to their moonwoman to slow, as she was not the only one who'd missed her. now, she wanted to speak to her more than ever; arrluk and ajei had gone away. regardless if it were far, a bitterness built within her stomach. she wished they'd remain here, but knew better than to fear the situation as one of sakhmet's exits. she hardly knew the woman; hell, she did not know the woman.
"hello," her eyes shone with concern as she looked upon her. "are you alright?"
she was good. galana thought that she might never feel that way again. though it had taken time as she filled her days with short travels away from the spine to occupy the space of painful thoughts. the village kukutux had built showed itself to be a place of healing, a home. no matter where she went, it would always be here.
"yes. i stopped worrying myself with the past. i am here now." galana did not know how to say that connections she once felt broken and lost remained in front her.
she saw them now. why else would be she afraid? arrluk had made her feel strong, as she viewed all the women of her blood. no longer did she consider herself a victim. galana survived.
"i'm sorry about shikoba, anaa." she frowned, her nervously swaying tail slowing as her ears turned outwards.
galana moved forward to embrace her, her eyes shone over with sympathy. she took in a shaky breath, comforted by the brush of her mother's fur and herbal scent that lingered with her. the girl once had looked upon shikoba's reaching greys in wonder of all the things she must of done. now it only made her sad. the mottled woman was to join the stars she hunted.
"she is loved." was all could she say.
apologies and words of understanding did not seem right. kukutux knew.
and then briefly, galana thought of sakhmet. was she dead- or did she walk in guilt, afraid to come back and look into the faces of her children, of kukutux? death, a guarantee in everything made the girl think of it all. shikoba would not die such a death, the girl liked to imagine. a life of love, loyalty, and pride.
the moonwoman was stirred by many things, galana imagined she knew only the surface of it.
"i will be." ajei still had an ocean to see with her! "arrluk will not have all of her attention."
an poor attempt of a joke, she pulled away with a smile to look into kukutux's jade eyes. galana wished to have deeply rooted connections, just as this woman did. ajei would only be one of the first. a sister, in joy, grief, and life.
"soon, when they're settled into their lives there, i will visit." she paused, mouth open without words as the weight settled once more. "but not now, i would like to be here with you."