Yesterday, 2:55 PM
a ripple of unease passes through the nearest cows as their heads raise from the frostbitten grasses to regard the approaching wolves, and fa’liya follows their attention with mild curiosity. her father's son she recognizes readily, and yet not so much the pale creature accompanying him. her ears turning forward when yanggadi saghani lowers his head in greeting.
the three spirits are familiar to her, and she finds it peculiar that they should have shown themselves to someone beyond the saatsine. particularly one who cannot speak their language. peculiar, too, that they should have sent her here.
fa’liya looks again to the stranger, considering her pale coat and the pleasant eagerness with which she presents her flowers. something unpleasant stirs in the back of her mind. the dream returns to her in fragments: another creature, canine in form, whose appearance she had struggled to reconcile with the rest of her vision. she has thought of it often since, and now, confronted with a stranger apparently favored by the same spirits, she feels that old uncertainty take on a more immediate shape.
it is an unreasonable association, she tells herself. the spirits have never been especially forthcoming with their intentions, and she has learned the folly of assigning meaning to every coincidence. nevertheless, she cannot quite dismiss the feeling.
her gaze lowers toward the offerings. the stone is dark and smooth, and the flowers have been gathered with obvious care. she noses gently through the mint, recognizing its fragrance before withdrawing to regard the woman herself.
hello, yanggadi saghani,she offers, somewhat breathlessly. her gaze wanders toward the woman at his side, then returns to him as he begins to explain the purpose of their visit. cen has sent them, apparently, although it is the mention of eena, uhka, and oga that gives her pause. she straightens a little, listening with an attentiveness she seldom affords ordinary conversation.
the three spirits are familiar to her, and she finds it peculiar that they should have shown themselves to someone beyond the saatsine. particularly one who cannot speak their language. peculiar, too, that they should have sent her here.
fa’liya looks again to the stranger, considering her pale coat and the pleasant eagerness with which she presents her flowers. something unpleasant stirs in the back of her mind. the dream returns to her in fragments: another creature, canine in form, whose appearance she had struggled to reconcile with the rest of her vision. she has thought of it often since, and now, confronted with a stranger apparently favored by the same spirits, she feels that old uncertainty take on a more immediate shape.
it is an unreasonable association, she tells herself. the spirits have never been especially forthcoming with their intentions, and she has learned the folly of assigning meaning to every coincidence. nevertheless, she cannot quite dismiss the feeling.
her gaze lowers toward the offerings. the stone is dark and smooth, and the flowers have been gathered with obvious care. she noses gently through the mint, recognizing its fragrance before withdrawing to regard the woman herself.
thank you,she says, although she understands from yanggadi's explanation that the words will mean very little. she dips her head in return, hoping the gesture might suffice.
she has seen them?fa’liya asks him after a moment, her pale eyes lingering upon the stranger. there is a faint incredulity in her voice, tempered by something considerably less comfortable.
i cannot tell her fate from a stone, yanggadi.her tone is gentle rather than reproachful.
i must know what happened.