Mudminnow River shrike

suliya’s brow lifted at the mention of the chieftain’s name, her interest piqued as the boy struggled through his introduction, the words clumsy on his tongue. she observed him in silence, her gaze steady, unflinching, catching every flicker of awkwardness and every attempt at strength.

ghelan, son of sun eater, she repeated in lanzadoii, letting the name settle between them like a shared truth. her tone was soft, yet carried an edge, a contrast to the boy’s unpolished response. i am suliya lanzadoii of the bloodlands, she replied, the name holding a weight in its simplicity, a name that traveled on the lips of those who remembered older ways and quieter shadows.

she watched the relief flicker in his eyes, the way his nostrils flared as he grasped for composure. suliya allowed herself a small, amused huff, tilting her head slightly. you hunt the caribou?