Kildeer Rest red paint

Sialuk could have sworn she heard a small laugh in Towhee's throat, though she did not understand why. The raindrop dismissed it as her imagination. Towhee's words were muffled through the pelt, but Sialuk's ears were keen enough to hear.

To flowing water, she said. We first clean the skins.

Ah, but Towhee had asked of the spine, a subject that brought much peace to the Moonglow child. Sialuk was careful to turn to Towhee as she said her words, moving toward the flowing water.

My home, the spine, Moonglow. You can see the peak of Moonspear from there, where I took my first breaths. It is where taataa and braataa—father and brother—now rest. I think of them often, speak to them as if they are still among us.

It was hard to be away from them.