Moonspear pinik ⊍

The kisses upon her cheeks were welcomed, the compliments to her children accepted with a swell of pride in her chest for each one. Tiuttuk bumbled toward their grandmother, paw reaching out for her chin. Pauk grew quiet, sneezed, and made cheerful sounds at the discovery of his sibling nearby.

As I welcomed Rolayne's mother and Kausiut, Sialuk said, a tinge of sadness in her voice for the sister who had gone to the dancing lights. Maggak and Acrux had taken to their younger siblings well, curious and delighted with them.

There is another thing, Sialuk said, her face growing heavy with the news she knew she should share. Argent has gone. He brought the bride price, but—Sialuk sucked in a breath, trying to still the clenching in her chest—he could not share my love with others. Why he had left Elentari, too, she could not know. He could have stayed for her, stayed a friend to Sialuk, but he had not.

Elentari remains steadfast, Sialuk assured anaa. She is on a journey now to find a father for her children, but she has her heart set on Alaric, too. Would he not do the same as Argent had? Would he not leave her in the lurch? The starwoman found herself steeling her heart against men, though she knew it to be unfair. They were fine lovers, but none had shown themselves to be reliable partners.