Nova Peak Wähkär

"no... no, it's alright." she tried to smile, a small thing that didn't quite reach her eyes. "you came all this way. i don’t mind. please, come inside," she pivots slowly on her heels, motioning the white woman to follow.

the den is warm. elowen retreats to her corner of it—her nest is clustered with feathers and now-wilted flowers, pretty stones, all to outline the elk hide she laid upon. he front legs curl up beneath her as she lowers herself, slowly, slowly, until she is flush with the floor.

she didn’t know what this woman wanted—what she knew, or thought she knew—but elowen refused to shrink away. whatever it was, she would face it. she had to be stronger, for the life swelling in her belly. "what brings you to me?"