Ouroboros Spine but what about your quiet treason?

the daylight filtered through the leaves of oak. 

she had lain there after another loving time with @Aiolos, her body serene in the warmth of the greening day. small bees dotted the verdant grass, gathering among the tinier dots of whitepetaled flowers. in time the duck stretched luxuriously and rose with a soft grin to take up the tasks once more. she felt young, near girlish, as she approached the path which led to the ulax.

moondoe would have already wakened with her daughters; her mother would soon join her, to ease vairë from the den for a rest and a drink of water. there were voices upon the wind, and soon the sound of children would join them.

laughter floated from the lake. she breathed out in peace and let her mind touch the places where she kept the sea-going-girl and her shining-water babe. often did kukutux think of them, even if her mind forced its acceptance and kept her forward.

weddings to plan. had galana grown more than a youthful eye for that slender redhawk man? peregrine was built like otter, kukutux decided, steps swaying as she —

anaa, i am here.

the small paw lifted in movement stilled; kukutux became a carving of snow for a moment.

but you knew who it is.

and you hoped she would return.

tooteega smirked.

a daughter returns to her mother. are those not the words that came to you the day that kivaluk said he would leave with chickadee? it was a prayer, my snow bird woman.

"ariadne?" questioning aloud, mouth shutting hard on what the spirits had given.

kukutux whirled and ran down the path. this hard-packed trail of dirt, so many things it had known! and it had known the step of kigipigak and her daughter once more, on an ill-fated ask for bride price and acceptance among the sunshine people.

now she would have given it! now she knew her part in the separation, and the beat of her heart thrummed in forgiveness asked from the one who had come back.

her heart pounded; yes; yes! there was ariadne, standing beside a dour winterhawk; and yes! aya! little ones! her eyes blurred so much that she did not see their expressions, only slowed long enough to pull ariadne into her arms, laughing in disbelief as the tears came. she was here! she was whole! where had she gone? but she was alive, she was here.

only when she drew back to appraise her daughter did the laughter fade; she glanced between ariadne and kigigpigak, and felt the harsh knife-thrust of something into the ribcage of the moment.

"what has happened?" what had taken the light from her girl? what had eaten the flesh from her face, her arms? the children; so young! why were they here?

the mother held back her questions, eyes worried and relieved and loving upon the daughter.