Ouroboros Spine Waiting on that morning sun

time truly had flown with shikoba. in June, it would be her third year upon the spine. 3 years since she had wandered, alone and afraid that there was nothing left for her in these wilds, as was the same with her own home in the desert.

yet the spirits were her clear guides, and moon woman became her own sister. these past seasons have been something that shikoba had not expected to have in her later years of life, yet here she was. she comes to place herself upon the pelt gestured by the girl.

“3 years,” she tells the young hunter honestly, “moonglow has taught me many things.” it was certainly different than her own village in the sand and rock, though shikoba has come to appreciate such differences with her age. she has learned many things while in the spine, things that perhaps she would have never known had she been on her own. she has grown, certainly, in more than 1 way.

“do not apologize,” she would offer to the girl, “it is not something we control. you are wise to stay here.” perhaps she could offer more praise to nasamik for keeping to herself in these times, though she’d overlook the need to plumpen the girl with compliments and perhaps save it for another time.

when she heard the language of kukutux, shikoba perked up a bit. this girl perhaps hailed from the same land? “you speak moon woman’s words,” she says lightly, “do you come from her home?”