Big Salmon Lake Why are you hanging on so tight

When the woman made it clear Treepie wasn’t infringing, she reposed on the other side of the stone. Her eyes followed Periane’s movements as her paws hovered over a cluster of wildflowers. She gathered the bundle in her paws and began rubbing them against the damp red fur. Pie could smell their fragrance as the plants broke apart under Periane’s ministrations.

Makes sense to me, the yearling mused. The damp always seems to make the smell stronger, at least. Like when it rains, everything smells a hundred times more intense.

She wished she could remember just how Sialuk had prepared her skins. It would’ve been nice to pay homage to her anaa by emulating her that way. And the ulaq—once her mother’s, now hers—could use a few new ones. Treepie bit at her lip. She could ask Periane to show her but it wouldn’t be the same.

What do you plan to do with it? she asked instead.