Dawnlark Plains lvi. ‘cause all that remains

it was good to be in the wild lands.

there was much to see. already aiolos had shown to her and their daughters the long place of the sea. she remembered it, for she had run away from cry toward the salt. and she had not returned to that forest.

she was suddenly struck by the breadth of all that had happened. the duck found that her kinsman had left the place that moonglow had settled for a rest upon their journey.

ensuring that kausiut, who had fought to walk their whole trail, and samani were in the protection of their kin, kukutux followed. whatever she had expected to scent, it was not the heavy chilling oily smell of bear.

nor was it lótë.

kukutux could not help the strangled cry which broke from her chest; she sped on and past kigipigak, taking the cloudberry woman into her arms with a horrified glance at the burning wounds. wilwarin was with her. "the spirits have led you both back to us," she gasped out.