Moonspear ^_________________^

Skipping Tikaani and Nayati as instructed. Feel free to hop in again whenever you two like, of course!

The group of four began ascending the mountain. Treepie couldn’t wait to get back to the familiar old rendezvous site, though she was a bit more hesitant about paying a visit to Sialuk’s ulaq. It would be so strange to be there without her; it felt almost sacrilege. But on the way home, she’d decided she would keep it warm for her anaa. She was determined to keep her silent promise, even if it was hard.

Killdeer and the other two chatted a little as they climbed, though it wasn’t long before her dad directed a question her way. Pie looked up at him before her eyes skirted toward the groves of alpines on every side. She chewed at her lower lip, hoping Tiki would fill the silence, but her half-sister seemed to be waiting for Tiuttuk to say something. It had been her retreat, thus her story to tell.

I don’t want to talk about it right now, she said, then realizing how pointy that sounded, she hastily added, Sorry, taataa. I’ll tell you about it later. I promise. I just need some time.

It was too fresh. And though she was happy to see Nayati, Treepie didn’t want to divulge all her failures in front of him. She didn’t even want to rehash it with Tiki. It wasn’t about them, or their father. Tiuttuk just needed a little time to settle herself and lick her wounds. And, really, she could think of no place more appropriate than the former High Sage’s den.