this place which nate had chosen put elk charm to mind of her natal valleys. she had not yet set a place for a wetu; she lived in a quick-lodge similar to the one she had built with samo on that first day, before rejoining nate upon the beach.
elk charm was quiet enough to see that their chieftain did not eat, and began to hold back a pawful of the edible plants foraged daily. to hunt took force and time that might be spent elsewhere.
her breath rose in a plume. between the sharadoii woman's own pelt and the deerskin she wore outside the quick-lodge, there would be no freezing, but discomfort and the threat of aching feet were high.
inside the winter's shelter, she kept a cache, and from this she gave also to any others who seemed to ail. when nate spoke with elk charm in requesting that she search beside him, her riverdark eyes took him in with a somber nod.
she stood beside the leader now, draped in one pelt for shawling, another bundled to her shoulders to hold what morsels were available.
setting down the carry-skin, revealing its light contents of dug roots, small green buds collected in spite of frost and little sun, lichen scraped from the underside of branches.
elk charm found a smile to muster. this dreaming voice, this dark cold, the crying of the earth -- these things had stopped her from thinking upon those unsureties which had first plagued her.
elk charm was quiet enough to see that their chieftain did not eat, and began to hold back a pawful of the edible plants foraged daily. to hunt took force and time that might be spent elsewhere.
her breath rose in a plume. between the sharadoii woman's own pelt and the deerskin she wore outside the quick-lodge, there would be no freezing, but discomfort and the threat of aching feet were high.
inside the winter's shelter, she kept a cache, and from this she gave also to any others who seemed to ail. when nate spoke with elk charm in requesting that she search beside him, her riverdark eyes took him in with a somber nod.
she stood beside the leader now, draped in one pelt for shawling, another bundled to her shoulders to hold what morsels were available.
at a -- long walk,elk charm murmured.
not close.
setting down the carry-skin, revealing its light contents of dug roots, small green buds collected in spite of frost and little sun, lichen scraped from the underside of branches.
i please ask you to eat, nate-ronan. then we will go to this tree.
elk charm found a smile to muster. this dreaming voice, this dark cold, the crying of the earth -- these things had stopped her from thinking upon those unsureties which had first plagued her.