Hoshor Plains tinnun ⊹

ariadne fled in a flash of grief and anger. moonmother's eyes openly followed, as did those of moonglow. she too was distraught, though not so much as sister to the young moonsong wolf.

vairë did not follow.

her eyes closed in prayer.

kukutux felt the gallop of a pained heart; she turned back to the assembly.

the red woman from the sea spoke, and she thought of sakhmet, her fire-starter.

a she-wolf with a heavy accent next gave her words.

easy offered her own voice last, and to each of them did moonmother give a direct look, a nod.

"all that has been said is right. it must be your choice. you cannot be rushed. and you cannot be shamed."

she went on to offer more herbs: ones to support conception, others for pregnancy itself. more for milk, and the last for afterbirth, to ensure the mother pushed it out of her body before the birth could be said to have ended.

she spoke of spirit names. she spoke of a woman's connection to that world beyond, and how each of them must cultivate it out from under the eyes of any men.

she spoke of the taboos with which she had been raised, and warned the young women especially that any man who sought such control could not be trusted.

their circle was ended with a sharing of a howl, after which she lingered to speak with those who wanted to speak, though her eyes continued to look for ariadne.