Emberwood jedanaest

if i said — she stopped for a beat. mulling the words over before she rolled them along her tongue. not as smooth, but certainly an attempt. the strongest one. the one who leads. the words felt like she carried stones in her mouth.

weighted and heavy, keeping her grounded.

they know it means they are trusted?

or perhaps she was being told it was not the words, but the acts. that ice diver must remain strong, that she must run alongside the caribou with that fighting heart. she supposed there was no greater way to show trust than that, was there?