Moonspear goodbye iowa

tags for reference!

Sialuk settled into something of a routine. Her mornings began with a trip outside for water and to greet the day—though her greeting was more solemn since the passing of her younger sister. She would then briefly make the rounds to those in the pack who happened to be nearby before returning to the den for feeding time. @Maggak and @Acrux were nearly ready to be weaned from their mothers' milk, but @Rolayne and @Panuk needed many more weeks before they were able to eat a diet of only the meat brought to them. They grew in tandem with their older, larger siblings, and Sialuk cared for them as her own.

Once everyone was fed, she typically spent time with @Argent and @Elentari. And @Whip if she could manage to catch him, though he often seemed evasive. Perhaps he was overwhelmed at the thought of being a father. She would not begrudge him his space, though she wished that he would be familiar to the children. The days went on, and Sialuk would spend time at her shrine, consulting the bones or simply praying for her sister's safe passage to the land of the dancing lights. She had decided that once the younger children were ready to return to Moontide, she would bring them home and sing the death songs for their mother. This way, they could grieve the woman they had never known.

She stood just outside the ulaq now, peering in the direction of the spine where her mother had surely returned by now.

Though Njord had told him he would help to hunt. Rodyn couldn't put the only solace he knew down. So the time he didn't spend with his children, he hunted.

He traced the pathways of goat and deer. He learned where small animals dwelled. He had been on the move for goat this day, but he had lost the trail. Instead he carried a brace of rabbits and weasels towards the caches nearest where his children stayed.

Tear tracks still fresh upon his fur. Everytime he was thinking though he grieved, his tears were done, more welled up. But he found no shame in his grief for his peachy queen.

He found Sualuk on a brief foray out and stopped for a moment. Laid the prey at his feet. He'd be able to see Panuk and Rolayne so he wouldn't stay long.

Good morning Star woman.

a smile though it didn't meet his eyes. This was not her fault and he wished he could greet her better, but he could not. Not without his grief.

i rolled in hopes of a goat, but alas <3

It is good to see your face, Rodyn, she said, knowing his smile was merely an automatic response rather than an emotional one. It will be a long time before your spirit mends. How did your birth village honor the dead? she asked. When he and her sister had joined their lives, they had joined their cultures, too. It was not only the way of the moon villages, but also the way of their lovers that they would respect. Surely he knew of the nine death songs that would be sung for his wife and daughter, but Sialuk wished to know that Rodyn's grief was mended in his own way, too.

And if he did not know the ways of his people? Or if his people did not have a way to bring their darkened spirits to peace? Perhaps he could join her when she sang her own songs for sistraa when the children returned to the coast. It had soothed her own spirit all those years ago, and she knew it would do the same when the time came for her to mourn properly.

A dip of his head. Yours too.

Rodyn blew out a breath, shaky and unsure. I don't know if it will ever mend, Star woman.

Her question, he blinked and looked down. A soft shoulder shrug. I'm not sure. No one died while i lived there. My father only allows his son to stay until they are a year and a half. Then he chases them away. Which i won't do by the way. I don't like that tradition of my fathers.


Rodyn titled an ear. I heard strings of the death songs as i brought the boys to the mountain. I will honer our peachy queen this way. But.

He looked down. I am unsure how.

Sialuk had seen hearts mend that she had thought were broken beyond repair. If he persisted, he would find peace someday. It may be many winters ahead, but she would say prayers for his spirit to find calm once more. Rodyn explained that his village had taught him no rite of death. Not only this, but he shunned the traditions of his home. Sialuk did not think this was a good way to view his birth village, but she made no outward display of this thought. Now was not the time or the place to scold a man for discarding traditions.

He wished to sing the songs for his wife as the rest of her family did, and Sialuk nodded. When the babes are old enough—and ready to return to the shore—I will come with you, teach you the songs so that we both may guide the pieces of her that may still live in our hearts. She thought of the bone that lay with her sister now, the piece that would always be with her in the land of the dancing lights. But there was more Sialuk wished to give, and it was through singing the songs that it would be possible.

Rodyn wasn't sure he could ever fully feel well or truly good. But he would try to at least act as such. At least while in the spear.

Rodyn didn't have many traditions from his homw. And the one he did have, to chase away his children it was inconceivable to him. Not to mention Samani had asked him to never do this. When he had chosen her, he too had chosen her family and their traditions and he saw no wrongness in this. None. He also didn't like close mindedness and he felt this was a way to show that by being open about his beliefs and what he liked and agreed upon.

Rodyn didn't know how well he could sing, but he would do his best for his peachy queen.

Thank you. a quiet murmur of thanks, but he meant it with all his heart.

He thanked her, and though Sialuk knew no words of gratitude were needed, she did not brush them off. She knew that Rodyn had a long, difficult road to his spirit's recovery ahead of him. Sialuk had this as well, but she had not fully processed her sister's death yet. She had not been there to see the body, nor had she been there to lay her to rest. Only when the songs came to her would she truly begin to feel all the emotions that were lurking beneath the surface. Life would go on for her—and Rodyn—and eventually peace would come back to her. She had done it before, and she knew that she could do it again, no matter how difficult it might be.

How is Marina faring in village Moontide? And her children? Sialuk asked. She had inquired after the girl to Ariadne, but her sister had not known the young woman who Sialuk had escorted to the seaside village. A part of her wished that she could have taken the girl in here, upon the mountain, but she had not known at the time that both she and Elentari would give birth to only a single child each. She could only hope that the young Marina had given birth without complications.

Rodyn would have somwthing Sialuk didn't. He had already begun to grieve fully amd in a way he knew when it came time to take his sons home
The grief maybe doubled for her as she realized not only had she lost her sister, but she also had to give up her sisters sons
Though Rodyn knew she would never be far.

Rodyn smiled. She had two. Carlisle and Brockleigh. Hers was hard, but she managed. Heph and Chakliux helped us out well with her. She is a loved member of our pack.

Rodyn shared news of Marina and her two children: Carlisle and Brockleigh. Sialuk found these names strange to har, as though they were not names at all. Still, it was god to know that she had recovered. Not only that, but the village had come together to help her cope with her somewhat unfortunate circumstances. The name of Chakliux was well-known, but the other she could not put a face to.

I do not know Heph. Will you tell me of them? she asked. Sialuk remembered that distraction had assuaged her grief, and perhaps it would help Rodyn to put his mind upon other, happier things.

Rodyn could have done better for Marina. He knew this. They all could have, but they had tried hard to make her life a good one despite what she was going through.

A large smile at the mention of Heph. Heph is one of my dearest friends. I met her on my bride price journey. My price was eight white ermine pelts, three stag skins, four otter pelts, a shell from the sea, dried caribou meat, and to Wrestle with Aiolos. I only tell you so you understand how much she and i worked together. She helped me get most of the large game i would have been unable to get on my own. She is funny and kind, a roma of sorts. She nevere settled preferred to travel until we established Moontide. She is our ranger, ambassador and trader. She will help those she can. Never harsh words does our Heph have. But she is funny and silly and makes some of the best comebacks i know. But she can also be counted on when needed without a doubt.

He smiled again. I think you would like her.

Sialuk settled in for Rodyn's description of Rodyn's friend, Heph. She sounded like an amazing woman, and helpful too! She had been involved with bringing sistraa and Rodyn together, which was a very good omen. It also painted her in a light that Sialuk did not always see in others: the ability to help somebody else's plight, even when it would do very little for the one helping. It was not as though Heph had married Rodyn's betrothed, after all. Although, as Rodyn continued, Sialuk wondered if he might seek comfort in his friend after the death of his wife. It was not a wrong thing to do, though she did not press the question upon him now.

Heph sounds a smart woman, Sialuk said, When I come to Moontide, I will make a meeting with her. It was entirely likely that Heph would become a maternal figure to the two boys, and Sialuk would wish to know the motherly influences on her nephews were good and true. It would be good to see Marina, too. I feel I have done her a disservice not making time for her sooner. Granted, Sialuk had been rather busy with her own children, and now Rodyn's, but there were times when she could have taken a short trip to see the young woman she had brought to the village on the coast.

Rodyn had not ever entertained the idea of Heph as his. There had been a time he wondered if Samani would take Heph as a lover. And he had been fine with that, but for him. Samani was all he saw. Even now. He knew he would compare others with her, and it would be unfair of him to ever take another until he could no longer do so. Though he had not even thought of such a thing thus far.

Rodyn nodded. Smarter than me. Thats for certain.


Rodyn smiled. I think they would like that, both enjoy company.

last one from me! <3

The new father nodded, smiled, and Sialuk felt their conversation dwindle to its natural end. It was not a sad thing, for they would have many more. With Sialuk as their milkmother, Panuk and Rolayne would always hold a special place in the Ostrega's heart. Their father, too, would become a close friend, she thought, and Sialuk made silent plans even now as to when they would bring the two small babes back to Moontide. They would need to be strong enough to make the journey, though she had no doubt two boys of her sister and Rodyn would be more than healthy enough.

You will watch them for a little while? she asked, glancing back to the darkness of the ulaq. She wished to take some time on the mountain, away from the busy home, and grieve her sister privately.

A soft nod Of course

He shifted into the dsrkness and curled around the two babes of him and Samani. A swift kiss to each small forehead and then he peered into the darkness. He would wait for Sialuk to get back to be sure she was okay before he slept.