Moonspear And the chickens how they rattle chicken chains

her mouth curved with a smile she could not this time simply hide away; kukutux was warmed to hear bronco's opinion of her. they had only just met, and already it seemed she had made an impression upon his surface. the motherly part of her, however, saw that the medicines were beginning to tug at him with its soporific effects.

kukutux did not believe she had tricked bronco, for she had not lied about the properties of the tea. he simply had not asked, and would now sleep. this was her mother's way: men refused to be still when they must mend, and so a wife learned to sing him down from those heights so that his body might recover. there was no compromising to be had when it came to the mending of bruises an an aching body. a hunter who went out before healed might risk offending the spirits of the beasts he wished to fell.

"for now, sleep," the duck instructed, straightening. "meerkat showed me to where your den is. i will go with you there now." she watched him closely, expecting him to heed her as he had thus far. "when you wake, you will feel stronger." she waited for the boy to draw toward her side, beginning a slower gait in the direction of the mica-studded den he shared with his sister.