Moonspear ^_______________^

Sialuk knew it was past time for the ceremony when children became adults, but she found it difficult to process. Only Treepie and Tikaani remained. The sage knew also that the children who had left had the knowledge and the strength to survive in the harsh world outside. She had to know it, or she could not bear to live with their departures.

Presently, Sialuk was tossing a bit of meat to Sixsix, her ever-loyal companion. It was he who had seen her through so much of her life, and the Ostrega did not think she would handle his eventual departure well, even if it came to be at her own demise. She looked past the crow when the bird squawked, seeing her youngest daughter draw near.

My little bird! Sialuk greeted, her tail wagging generously as Tiuttuk closed the last distance between them.