Ouroboros Spine ii. and leave them

She had left the other women to their mourning, though instinct called for her to keen with them in their grief -- as she might've the women of her homeland when one of their own was lost. But these were not the herbalist's dead to cry for. She locked the pain of empathy behind sealed lips, settling silently amongst them as if she did not wish to burden anyone with her newfound presence in such a delicate time. @Kukutux had given her tasks to see to and see to them she would, dutifully. And soon she would choose a place to build her ulaq -- as @Sialuk had named the dwelling where she and her dam slept -- and make it her own in truth. Today, she would hunt and help relieve some of the strain from the yearling's shoulders -- from the menfolks' too. She was grateful for all the things that filled her shcedule, not very keen on dwelling on the events that had led her here. It was almost cathartic to ignore it in favor of all the work that needed to be done.

The dove rose at dawn, snow brushing her thick pelt in a powder of white as she rose from the snowbed she had packed down in the shelter of the conifers in the upper reaches of the low peaks, when the first grey light crept over the horizon -- before even the sun's rays had peeked over it. She pattered into the woods at a slow trot, allowing her muscles to warm and loosen with the exercise before slipping into a steady lope as she circled the territory in search of game. 

Perhaps the spirits would favor her this day, she might have to make her way to the lower forests and out of the territory but perhaps if she ranged a bit afield, they would smile on her hunt so much as to lead her to a herd of deer -- then perhaps Aiwëndil might recruit some of the men to help her make a rewarding catch. 

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