Arrow Lake gymnopedie

when she wasn't gathering herbs, she spent much time with the children. Sivullik, Tuvak, and Simmik. . .but to the others, her nephews and niece were @Stag, @Mesa, and @Monarch. she much preferred the other names, but Tahani could see why the simple monikers were easier for the Diasporans to grasp. after all, the healer still struggled greatly with the common tongue.

even more so, since she'd parted from Currituck. her daughter was a natural wanderer; Tahani was not. and the north was too cold for the brown-pelted girl, whereas the south was too warm for Tahani. they were a mismatch, through and through—but she loved Curri, and missed her with everything she had.

Takiyok's trio filled some of that hole in her heart, at least. she tried to roll with their punches, but god, they were strong children! strong and healthy: that was good. she'd heard through the grapevine that their father had died hunting, but at least they had Taki.

though one was missing. . .Atanik. "Ego," they called him. he'd run away after his father's demise, and if she had the strength, she'd search. Tahani ached for her sister, but her place was best here, with the remaining pups. with luck and faith, Atanik would return soon enough, and they would be nearly whole again. not completely. . .but sometimes "nearly" needed to be enough.

this afternoon, she lay outside the den, idly nosing around a pebble she'd found near the lakeshore. nearly perfectly round, opalescent—one of the most beautiful natural little things she'd ever seen.