Meadowlark Prairie i'm getting older

"that way," qiao motioned to the distant hills. "the east is where the sun rises - except in dreams. then you should avoid east, it is your end." she hunched down and unfolded the peltskin, ripping stalks of dried grass and bare earth from the dirt and sprinkling it atop the stone and stomach. closing her eyes, qiao passed her paw over the contents, spoke a few strange words, and stood up.

"there are always eyes in the woods. this protects us from being seen." she plucked the pelt from the ground and shook it once, folding it over the rope of greenbrier before securing it to her neck. she did not have much energy left for these things - ah, if only she had snakeskin, or a quail's egg!

qiao left the bird, the stomach, and the stone. it was not until a few steps later she turned back and addressed the girl. "coming?"