her first full day in moontide. alesya spent her time getting comfortable; she padded her bed — ulaq, as the moonpeople called it — with warm furs, aromatics plucked from the seaside and smooth stones of pale hue. she ate bison down to the bone and slept until mid-afternoon.
as the sun sank below the horizon, she sought to gather an offering for samani's spirit as she had promised. rodyn had given her clues, some hints; but the gifts would have to find her. alesya had not known the girl in life — but there was faith that she would speak to her in death.
two gulls sit just a ways up the beach, and the winter witch watches them intently. they croon and chitter between themselves. she thinks they may have something to tell her.