Emberwood you always were

it was difficult to pinpoint bhediya's exact emotion upon hearing ibis's inquiry. most of it was flattery, being the one chosen to have this conversation, but there was a trace of sadness, too. of all the girls she'd ever brought into the world, she'd never had a chance to help them when their time came. in that way, ibis was like a daughter to bhediya, though by declaration rather than genetics.

the girl's embarassment was palpable. to offer comfort, bhe gently nudged at her shoulder. i have a lot of them, she replied, her mind searching for any memory of their faces. my youngest three, they were all very different. they had their own personalities, you know? even as infants, it was easy to tell them apart just by the way that they acted. one of them, arushi, i remember her being like you.

this was the last time she intended to mention the names of her lost children. it was easier to presume them dead than to accept that she'd been left behind. bhediya drew in a deep breath. no, i don't know. there were too many stages of motherhood for her to deduce the correct one. you don't have to be...shy, ibi. you can ask me.