3/5/2026, 5:34 PM
how unfair! her mind cried for the sudden rush of air between them, the careful way samo folded himself apart. his thoughtfulness had always surprised elk charm, pleased in her those tender moments of solitude when she had allowed her thoughts to wander.
maybe now she saw only that she had been a girl, a stupid, foolish girl. the ritual was passed and with it the restrictions --
elk charm wanted to touch him, at last. oh! her foolish limbs refused to work, and each second was a personal failing of her own.
deerskin removed; she had forgotten its existence, and in silence her riverdark eyes traced his face, then fell to the pelt.
she believed him. these things, they happened. elk charm had not asked because she held no blame. the singing hills had carried her pain until its heaviness was too harsh a burden, and when it was time for her to travel away from that place, she had tried in earnest effort to let samo go.
now he stood here, and a rift had come up between them -- the joy she felt at his return was so gnawed by unsurety that now guilt reared a third snarling visage.
when elk charm lifted her face, it was wet with tears. her arms were around his neck before she realized it, holding tightly through the cadence of her terror that samo would disappear.
daring not to clasp for long, the sharadoii fell away, passing a shaking paw over the pile of fine fur. a smile glittered her tearstained cheeks into a true grin.
a man with blue eyes who denied himself as chieftain even as he led many -- nate waited for her to return.
a man with a fathomless gaze and scars upon his brow reappeared in her path, and samo's eyes held their few moments.
elk charm, with a cravenness that ashamed her, wanted simply to run away, back to the singing hills. she would throw herself upon the mercy of grey shrike, ask him to adopt her as sister. he would find a husband for her, or, if none could be found, she would help him to raise the children of his wetu.
then she would not stand here with this empty lake of unsaid things between herself and samo.
her face was smooth, belying nothing now outside of the salt tracks.
maybe now she saw only that she had been a girl, a stupid, foolish girl. the ritual was passed and with it the restrictions --
elk charm wanted to touch him, at last. oh! her foolish limbs refused to work, and each second was a personal failing of her own.
deerskin removed; she had forgotten its existence, and in silence her riverdark eyes traced his face, then fell to the pelt.
she believed him. these things, they happened. elk charm had not asked because she held no blame. the singing hills had carried her pain until its heaviness was too harsh a burden, and when it was time for her to travel away from that place, she had tried in earnest effort to let samo go.
now he stood here, and a rift had come up between them -- the joy she felt at his return was so gnawed by unsurety that now guilt reared a third snarling visage.
when elk charm lifted her face, it was wet with tears. her arms were around his neck before she realized it, holding tightly through the cadence of her terror that samo would disappear.
daring not to clasp for long, the sharadoii fell away, passing a shaking paw over the pile of fine fur. a smile glittered her tearstained cheeks into a true grin.
a man with blue eyes who denied himself as chieftain even as he led many -- nate waited for her to return.
a man with a fathomless gaze and scars upon his brow reappeared in her path, and samo's eyes held their few moments.
thank you. i will make something beautiful.
elk charm, with a cravenness that ashamed her, wanted simply to run away, back to the singing hills. she would throw herself upon the mercy of grey shrike, ask him to adopt her as sister. he would find a husband for her, or, if none could be found, she would help him to raise the children of his wetu.
then she would not stand here with this empty lake of unsaid things between herself and samo.
i have left the hills. there are too many ghosts. i follow a new tribe now. many others.
her face was smooth, belying nothing now outside of the salt tracks.
you will come with me, samo?