Ouroboros Spine Sweet Summer pie

C'MERE BABYYYYYY <333

days were growing longer. and shikoba could feel herself growing older.

she had told herself and even whispered to Kukutux that this may be her last litter. motherhood was something she had come to appreciate in her time, despite only giving 3 children to the world. she thought about her 2 spirit walkers in the moments that she walked the spine alone, wondering if they watched over their siblings.

and as shikoba would come to be graced with greying hair around her eyes, she could see her children were becoming braver and bolder. little Chiteo and Ajei were taking to exploring wonderfully, and while their mother did not lose her sense of protection over them, she indeed fell into the pit of letting things happen because they weren't her first litter. it was very much akin to when parents are germophobes with their firstborn, and then let their secondborn eat dirt because it keeps them from crying.

shikoba was working off her mom-body, though it felt like there would always be the little pouch to remind her that she has brought life into the world. so when she comes across her littlest creation, she is pleased to see that her lessons of safety remain intact.

"ajei," she calls to her softly to avoid frightening her, "do you watch the river?" she comes to ask her in the primordial tongue she had been so desperate to teach her children. navajo was an incredibly difficult tongue, and yet her kids were picking things up at a good pace. every day, it brought a strong sense of joy to shikoba.