Qeya River fables

star eater settled herself, the scent of herbs thick around them as she pressed a paw to one of the bundles she had sorted.
qeya river, she corrected gently, her voice low and measured. saatsine is my people. caribou hunters. her pale eyes swept over the young woman, assessing the way exhaustion still clung to her, the way her body remained weak with recovery. she had carried burdens before. she would carry this one, too.
we will move, when my young are weaned. her voice was firm, certain. until then, you are safe here.
a pause, and then softer, you are in my den.