Black Morass sakoku

the boy went to find gifts to add to the rest, giving satsu a moment alone.

she watched him move for a few moments. inevitably her thoughts wandered back to her own family, her losses; it would have been nice to add something for her father as well, but she did not want to think of him. for all the love she had for the man, satsu often saw him in her dreams. she did not want to help him pass on (if that's truly what this path-marking was).

when the boy returned he gave a stone plucked from the soil. he said the name of mothwing before turning back to seek another gift. satsu took care to clean its surface and placed it next to her sister-stone. after, watching as the boy stared skyward rather than among the trees again, satsu was surprised to see him touting a sharp black shape between his teeth.

for moonshadow. he placed it at his feet, and satsu saw the weight of his loss take form upon his face. she knew that feeling well - sharing in it, silently, for a moment. the feather was placed quill-end first between the stones, so that the shaft of iridescence could serve as a compass needle.

wherever i may go, i hope they follow. she murmurs. wherever you may go, be safe. perhaps you will find them again. she pauses in case there is anything the boy wishes to say, feeling a weighted chill in the air between them.