Herbalists' Cache Uqqurmiut

@Kekoa

the journey back felt longer than before. whether it was due to the terrain (as she fjorded the marsh and had them crossing the plains, rather than keep on a more northerly route) or because the addition of this boy slowed them down, sulukinak soon realized it would take a day or so before they'd return to the riverside. if they returned.

what was the likelihood that this boy would follow her all the way across the taiga?

so, along the way sulukinak made use of their lagging pace. if she saw a particularly vibrant plant, she'd stop to sniff it. if there was some odd looking lichen or moss growing in the marsh, or strange looking flowers in the plains, she'd make note of them and even look to the boy, as if he might have answers.

what's this? what's this?

as they neared the shelter of a forest (herbalist cache), sulukinak looked again to the boy.
it isn't far now. she'd said that a few times already.