Barrow Fields sky underground

she should return to the sea. it was easier there. it wasn't as quiet—the wind didn't howl there, but the earth did shake, and the water thrummed in that white-noise way she liked. maybe she would find her mother there.

the girl scampered among the dunes. they seemed to have grown since her last visit—they were taller now, and white, and sometimes when she punched at them they caved in, but they didn't smell any different. she knew from the warmer months not to dig them up, because there was nothing there really.

still, runa sniffed and prowled, and found the sour notes of death behind the cold. her stomach churned; she followed the scent, and when she came upon a larger mound she was tempted very close. there were bones here, and the flesh was cold but she could pick at it; although, not even the crows were interested in this odd-shaped thing covered in cold.

she circled the carcass once, twice, thrice—sometimes tugging at it, but not able to get much.