Arrow Lake Drifters

aventurine stones widened -- softening in surprise and utter relief. 

"aya," she breathed. "this is truly spoken." 

a sombre expression, her lips flattening into an empathetic line. her eyes and octaves alike dropped as the four-year told him the harsh truth of it.

"there are no other ostregas left. the last outside of your mother and sister that i ever saw was antares. and he is gone -- in search of a new name, just like the one your mother took."

"clan ostrega has become clan nuiruk. your mother. sialuk. myself. aiolos -- husband to your mother and i. all of our children." 

"you would be nuiruk too, then. if you wished." the doe blinked, her words gentle. 

it would not be an easy task. to find the others. to make them see the boy who had been, hiding in the man she saw now.

yet, nothing that was worth it ever was.