Dragoncrest Cliffs salt singing

chani's arms closed too for that of her mother, and they held one another beside the new earth of the grave. her heart raced; her eyes stung, and the young woman found she did not know what to do with her emotions.
"he was a good man," chani said at last, her voice hoarsened by the things she could not articulate. it was one of the greatest compliments a man could be given among them.
her paw touched the ground, gentle. reverent. "sapphique will see you thrive."
a whisper. 
and then she straightened, giving her mother all attention. "sobeille did not come back? i have a place to look, in de valley. will you understand if i go again, maman?" came her next deluge of breathless words, hanging onto chacal as if she might never let go.