[caan had his place, as did most of the lanzadoii. as fa'liya asked, cen recalled that even nutuyikruk had gained her footing -- even if now he was unsure of her return. aivar too, had gone away, but he felt that he had placed these things into motion. what became of them would happen now, regardless. both son and daughter had returned to the saatsine in weakness. caan had recovered while fa'liya remained delicate, tending to frail in light of the great march they must undertake. how then might he keep her safe even from the ways of lanzadoii? how then might he save her from the same ordeal through which his own mate and their own children must suffer? we have no ghost talker, he observed. we have been without one, and strong, but it is better that ice raven have a voice among us. the ghost talker did not hunt and were awarded a part of every kill. pups born of the ghost talker were not abandoned for weakness. the ghost talker might well set the pace for the entire clan. but the cost to that role came from seclusion, the demanded lengths of silence that must be sought before visions were given. it was for this reason, for the constant need of isolation and solace, that few talkers sought mates at all. remember you do not need have the same body to be part of the saatsine. look at caan. look at aivar, each bearing a weaker limb that did not discount their hunting or their power. you have a sound mind, fa'liya. be ghost talker or -- learn to change hunting for yourself. maybe you are not a running wolf. maybe you are the one who drives them in fear toward the other teeth. i will help if this you choose. cen spoke firmly but not to scold, for he was relieved to hear that fa'liya meant to apply herself, meant to look forward. he spoke to her as daughter of the chieftain, asking now to take her place at his other side.]

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me as well ;;; so much said and unsaid

caan had his place, as did most of the lanzadoii. as fa'liya asked, cen recalled that even nutuyikruk had gained her footing -- even if now he was unsure of her return. aivar too, had gone away, but he felt that he had placed these things into motion. what became of them would happen now, regardless.
both son and daughter had returned to the saatsine in weakness. caan had recovered while fa'liya remained delicate, tending to frail in light of the great march they must undertake.
how then might he keep her safe even from the ways of lanzadoii? how then might he save her from the same ordeal through which his own mate and their own children must suffer?
we have no ghost talker, he observed. we have been without one, and strong, but it is better that ice raven have a voice among us. the ghost talker did not hunt and were awarded a part of every kill. pups born of the ghost talker were not abandoned for weakness. the ghost talker might well set the pace for the entire clan.
but the cost to that role came from seclusion, the demanded lengths of silence that must be sought before visions were given. it was for this reason, for the constant need of isolation and solace, that few talkers sought mates at all.
remember you do not need have the same body to be part of the saatsine. look at caan. look at aivar, each bearing a weaker limb that did not discount their hunting or their power. you have a sound mind, fa'liya. be ghost talker or -- learn to change hunting for yourself. maybe you are not a running wolf. maybe you are the one who drives them in fear toward the other teeth. i will help if this you choose.
cen spoke firmly but not to scold, for he was relieved to hear that fa'liya meant to apply herself, meant to look forward. he spoke to her as daughter of the chieftain, asking now to take her place at his other side.