autumn bite brought memories of snow, and with it came the familiar cambering sensation of wanderlust and anticipation.
it kept the raven awake many nights, and on this one she trailed from the end of her patrol toward the place where the children were gathered.
boris gazed at the sky. his mother sat near and too turned her eyes up toward the heavens and its glittering belt. "once upon a time, boy have father he love very much. but his father have to travel far, to catch special fish so that that everyone could eat. the boy cried. one day moon hear him. 'what is matter?' moon asked. boy says, when my father travel, so dark he cannot see. i am worried."
her arm wrapped the pup's shoulders. teya's smile was one of love. "moon think a while. throw moonbolt to earth. moonbolt shatter. tell boy, 'find all pieces. put them in sky as stars. when father travel, his path is one of light so," teya went on, gesturing upward, "boy spend long time putting stars in sky. makes beautiful shapes. draws pictures of animals. but there are so man stars! boy despair he ever finish. one day, squirrel see the pile of stars. squirrel wants them. takes them! boy runs after squirrel. 'stop! stop!' boy tries to grab star from squirrel!" teya went on, voice gathering momentum. "they fight. stars fly out of arms up into sky all at once! boy says, 'squirrel! you ruin all my beautiful stars!' but not ruined."
teya pointed to a glimmering swathe of golden sparkles. "stars so bright, boy's father find way home." she kissed his little eartip. "this one story of how stars came to be."