Heron Lake Plateau to walk a path of slaughter

she had once found joy in watching the families gather in the lowlands. from afar it had never been clear what they did, only that they congregated by water, upon field, or came and went across the han where they were welcome.
a memory persisted. a boy barely grown in to his furs carrying a shining silver body in his teeth; his father or brother beside him, with double.

what? awareness; she forgets herself in the moment and hears the question too late. bowing swiftly in a shallow manner. yes, distracted.