Moonspear older and far away

tags for reference, but you're all certainly welcome to join in!

@Zyraena had been with them now for three-quarters turn of the moon. @Hakumele had been here only a short time, but Sialuk believed he recovered well, too. Winter settled on the village, and nights were spent with her nose tucked beneath her tail in the safety of her ulaq. Sialuk brought with her a large chunk of the elk shoulder to the two patients currently in residents of the healing ulaq. She had offered to tutor @Treepie today on some of the herbs she had been giving to the two here.

The sun, high in the sky, warmed her back despite the frigid temperatures, and she dropped the elk shoulder piece, woofing quietly when she came to the old log's entrance. It was looking worse for the wear, and she did not know if the structure would last past spring. Perhaps it would soon be time to relocate the place of healing.

Zyraena raised her head as she heard Sialuk's approach, the scent of elk wafting through the air, making her stomach stir in anticipation.

She had grown accustomed to the rhythms of life here, the quiet routines that had helped to ease the fear and confusion of her early days. Despite the lingering worry for Liora, Zyraena had found a semblance of peace within the safety of the village, even as the winter settled in around them.

Zyraena appreciated Sialuk's vigilant doting, but soon, she was eager to put a foot forward and pay the woman back.

She stretched, her body still lean from the hardships of her journey but stronger now, the lingering fatigue from the past weeks slowly fading. When Sialuk entered, Zyraena offered a soft woof in greeting, her lavender eyes lifting to meet the sage's gaze.

"Afternoon, Sialuk." She smiled softly.

Pie did not endeavor to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a healer, though she wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to learn from Sialuk. A few minutes after the High Sage arrived at the healing ulaq, Tiuttuk materialized with an offering of her own: the pelt of a skunk, made soft and supple by a meticulous wash and many days set out on a frigid mountaintop to air out the trademark musk.

Pie set the skin at her feet and nuzzled Sialuk’s chin, purring out a, Hello, mother. How are your patients? in lilting Atkan Aleut.

She peeked into the moldering log and caught a glimpse of a pale she-wolf with ethereal features. The woman greeted Sialuk, prompting Treepie to push into the shelter to make her presence known. Her face contorted when she realized she’d forgotten the skunk pelt. Quickly, she fetched it and brought it inside.

Hello! I’m Treepie, she said after placing it at her paws again. You can call me Pie.

Just a cameo!

Since arrival he had been bedridden. He had wished to whine, tired of the treatments by now, and yet when he was awake he was quiet, though most of his time was spent asleep.

Today was no different, the shark still thin sleeping to escape his fatigue. It left him little choice.

She offered a soft, but genuine smile as Treepie introduced herself, her voice lilting and melodic in the way she spoke. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Pie,” she said, her tone still warm, though her mind remained clouded with her thoughts of Liora. “Thank you for bringing the pelt. It will be useful, I’m sure.”

Zyraena shifted slightly, making room within the healing ulaq. "Sialuk has been kind to me," she continued, her eyes returning to the sage as she settled down. "And I believe my strength has been returning."

A brief glance to the sleeping form of Hakumele left her briefly breathless. Despite being roomies since his arrival, they hadn't spoken much. When Zyraena was not sleeping, he was sleeping.

She turned to Sialuk and Pie again. "Let us speak quietly." She smiled, lifting her frame lightly to approach the two at the front of the ulaq.

posting order for reference:

zyraena
sialuk
treepie
hakumele (skippable, sleeping)

The smell of the pelt Pie had delivered was strong, but not unpleasant to Sialuk's nose. Better, I would hope, Sialuk replied to Treepie, grinning down at her little one who wasn't quite so little anymore. Soon, it would be time to celebrate her coming of age, and Sialuk was already thinking of ways to mark the occasion. Given that so many of the children had dispersed early this year, and Tiuttuk disliked being apart from the spear, she did not think she would send her little bird away.

Zyraena looked even more chipper and awake than usual when she spoke from within the fallen tree, which Sialuk was happy to observe. Using her teeth, she severed the elk shoulder chunk into two, approximately equal pieces, sliding one over to Zyraena with her forepaw. The other, she stashed near Hakumele's resting form where he could find it upon waking. She had thought he might stir, but he seemed deep in sleep. It worried her on some level, but she kept that to herself for now.

The sage nodded at the recommendation to retreat nearer to the ulaq's entrance, and Sialuk was able to more clearly see the pale woman in the light that filtered in. She really did look like she had come a long way since their first meeting.

You are looking much better, she said, a smile playing on her lips. There were still some angular features here and there, but with time and steady meals, Sialuk knew that would improve. Do you feel ready to move from the healing ulaq? she asked.

Once her eyes adjusted to the dim interior, Pie glanced at the second figure tucked further back. He looked like a pile of mud heaped against the far wall, which wasn’t the most charitable thought. Before she could scold herself for it, the women’s voices recaptured her attention.

You’re welcome, she said, toeing the skunk skin a little nearer to—she hadn’t caught her name.

Her lips moved to ask, only the patient and Sialuk began to talk among themselves. Treepie swallowed her question for the moment, tail swinging slowly as she followed the conversation in attentive silence.

sorry for delay!

The warmth of the meat settled her stomach, and she felt her body responding to the steady flow of nourishment. There was still a faint weariness in her, but it was far less than before.

As Sialuk spoke, Zyraena’s gaze lifted, and she met the sage's eyes, her voice soft but steady. "Thank you. Your care has helped me more than I can express." She paused for a moment, considering the question about leaving the healing ulaq. "I feel stronger," she continued, her gaze flicking briefly toward the other figure in the ulaq, "I want to help, but I don’t want to rush."

She glanced back at Sialuk.

"Perhaps, if it’s possible, I could assist in small ways—gathering herbs, or helping around the village. I can still feel the weight of everything that happened, but I need to begin moving forward."