Neverwinter Forest kiiksiugun ⊎

Perhaps she had known, the moment Panuk had come to her.

Maybe there had always been a little red line tied between her and her littermates. Had she felt that snap when Ariadne had left this world? She had been so keen to ignore the ache and panic, she had imagined a million other outcomes but none seemed to be so fitting such suddenness.

The men went to the water.

She did not allow herself to be touched by it.

Not in the moments of silence — not in the wailing grief that came when her father resurfaced. She knew. She knew, she knew, she knew.

She did not wail alongside her grieving father — not ready to sing such songs — but she could not move. Her limbs had become rooted like an old tree. Her mother must know — Your mother will hear — and she must tell White Elk — He will hear too.

Her sister meant to make a village and now it was her grave.

Callyope yearned for a task to fill her mind in the blank spots that grief created, but she could not move.