Cricket Creek Bog an afterglow, abandoned no longer

Ah. Sorry. The speech of Halfshatter was showing itself on her tongue again, it seemed. I will try to speak with more press to each word.

Again she turned back to the water and took a sip, and again she looked back up. Still not sweet. Clean, I do not know. But I am yet to die, or see someone die to this water, so worry, I will not. She stood there, wondering. Brave or foolish, do you think?

A pause; a silent moment of rumination for her. She did not know the answer to her question. 

She should not have been so surprised when the stranger did not know what moss-ball was, but found herself taken aback anyway. Is there not enough moss in the north to play moss-ball? she asked. What a pity. It is only right that I teach you.

Moss here was not difficult to find; all the wolves in the world could play moss-ball with all of this. A'yan picked some up and rolled it into a semi-round shape. Moss-ball is a simple thing. Toss among yourself, or others. But every family plays moss-ball differently.

She paused again. Too many words, perhaps. She had to explain it in a way a northerner would understand. Their eloquence was different from that of the south and of the east A'yan had come from. 

She gestured back to the water. Home was a carving of rivers. There, sisters and brothers try to grab moss-ball and run. Much tackling, much chaos. Much laughter. She dipped the ball in water. If the ball touches water, moss-holder loses. Repeat until one winner. She chuckled. But - ah. It is more fun at night. One person bring many moss balls and run. Others wait, then chase. Runner leaves moss with their scent behind to let chasers find them. 

Again, regions differ. A moment to sit and consider. Children of the woods rub the ball in odd scents, then hide them. Children of the mountains toss the moss about until it goes down some slope or cliff. Children of the plains race to see who can bring moss the furthest. 

I have been doing much talking. Too much. Apologies. A'yan turned back to the woman. Say, will you please tell me of the games of the north? I wish to know.