Qeya River dawn country

it is a long list of things to commit to memory.

truthfully she felt like she was not of the mind to hold all of this at once. there are points being made that would serve like messy notes left behind in her brain. the talk of the hunting, the caribou. none of it bothered her. an agreeable nod here or there.

the talk of marriage.

it is like ice water poured over a fire. her lungs expanded with smoke. she did not exhale despite this. she held it all in like the wellspring of thoughts that poured over everything else. if she was to marry one caribou hunter among them, she knew who it might be.

she knew who she would bind herself to for his safety, for her safety.

the chieftain had words translated about his son. she knew who he meant to send and her belly rocked like waves for it. only crashing further as sheep killer spoke of bringing his own children back into this.