Neverwinter Forest tagialanaktuk ╟

at last kukutux came down; for moondoe she came down; 

she willed herself to the beautiful forest laced in the making-marks of @Callyope and @Panuk.

the duck had been unable to bring herself in request to aiolos; she had thankfully and silently left him at home with their many grandchildren.

now she tried not to let her trembling show, sweetened voice calling to say that she had brought a deerskin wrap of choice things, to share with daughter and with daughter's son.

she knew it must take great strength for her mother to be here.

so she came with a happiness as radiant as a summer sun. even if she was better suited to the incoming chill of the air around them. her steps softened by the mossy forest floor, but she sung out to her mother.

then she was there —

anaa! you have come for visiting!

Cameo unless he's addressed. <3

The dark boy trailed several paces behind Callyope. His eyes lifted to latch to the pale white coat of his grandmother. She had come to the forest and that filled him with deep love for the woman. His family warmed his soul. It was good to be surrounded by them. It was good to know their voices and their scents. 

Pan stood back, watching Callyope approach Kukutux.

ah! here was callyope, radiant with the dance of life, with what the forest had given.

mother and daughter embraced. she moved the small steps to kiss panuk also, her smile only for them both.

daughter and daughter's son. mother and son. mentor and pupil.

she saw in them wondrous reflections.

"callyope. i have brought good things to eat, and words: the hunt will soon come. stay near to moonglow camp, when we have made our place in the glen," she urged.

of course, of course. there was some youthful radiance to her face, something like girlish mischief behind her gaze too. the men must see my mother's camp, not just mine. she did not worry over panuk hearing these words. he was a young man! she expected that the small camp of moongrove might bloom with wonderful young women.

there is a new face here. a strong woman called storm. i have invited her to come hunt with us.

"tell me of her," kukutux urged, pleased to hear that moongrove had gained another.

moongrove.

she did not glance toward the lake.

"i mean to make matches for the daughters of your sisters. for the years that will come,"

moonwolves bonded. the sunshine people must weather the winter.

and tell she would. how the woman looked and how she walked so strong. how days had turned into weeks and callyope felt promise in her presence.

it would be good to have one not born of the moon ways beneath their canopy, she thought.

anyone could learn their ways.

yet the feeling of warmth and promise turned to something a touch somber. matches for the daughters of sisters. it would be good and it would solidify futures to come. she knew these things and yet still loss clouded the edges of this thinking.

you will be very busy then. she commented with warmth and yet felt idle, as if she made words like breathing instead of thinking.

what will you have me do to help such a busy woman? a smile that felt more real this time.

"there are always pelts to be done and meat to be gathered. but more than this, i wish for you to be light. to dance, to feast."

to seek a lover, even, if callyope wished it.

what did this place hold for her crane-bird woman? her flock needed the voices of many and she wondered, again, where white elk had gone.

maybe a fade, i know i took a minute with this ;;

it will be so,

she promised and she looked forward to it already!

so many might gather and her days would be filled with so much newness that she may grow tired before sunset! it would be good to be exhausted for good reasons.

i would like to feast among any camp who might welcome me — and dance with them too. much trading and learning might be done, too.

she dared to keep a small laugh within herself. as if embarrassed! perhaps, ever so slightly, she is.

how much her world might expand by seeing so many new faces from different walks of life.