4 hours ago
the more excited her brother becomes, the quieter fa’liya grows. she watches him recount his encounter with considerable enthusiasm, her ears turning backward at the mention of the spirits' peculiar behavior. there is little reason to doubt him, although she finds herself wishing that there were. the three caribou have appeared to her often enough that she recognizes something of their nature in his description, particularly the absence of scent and the strange manner in which they departed.
it is the woman's presence among them that troubles her.
she remembers the starving cow, the calf risen, the wolf whose appearance had complicated a vision she had already struggled to understand. until then, she had never encountered such a spirit, and she has spent the intervening months wondering why it had been shown to her, and now, listening to yanggadi speak of a wolf welcomed among the three, she feels something cold settle beneath her ribs.
fa’liya looks toward the stranger again. such an innocent creature, apparently. she has offered flowers, and regards the caribou with an affection fa’liya recognizes in herself. it seems unkind to regard her with suspicion for something she may not even understand, and a familiar image troubles her recollection, something glimpsed amid the peculiar happenings of visions she has not yet managed to put behind her.
she looks to her brother again, a little apologetically.
it is the woman's presence among them that troubles her.
she remembers the starving cow, the calf risen, the wolf whose appearance had complicated a vision she had already struggled to understand. until then, she had never encountered such a spirit, and she has spent the intervening months wondering why it had been shown to her, and now, listening to yanggadi speak of a wolf welcomed among the three, she feels something cold settle beneath her ribs.
fa’liya looks toward the stranger again. such an innocent creature, apparently. she has offered flowers, and regards the caribou with an affection fa’liya recognizes in herself. it seems unkind to regard her with suspicion for something she may not even understand, and a familiar image troubles her recollection, something glimpsed amid the peculiar happenings of visions she has not yet managed to put behind her.
i believe you,she assures him gently.
i know them. they have visited me also.her gaze lowers to the stone, and she considers it for a moment before looking toward the herd. one of the cows has resumed grazing, apparently satisfied that the visitors pose no immediate danger.
but i do not know why they brought her.the admission troubles her more than she cares to reveal.
perhaps they wish for her to remain with us. perhaps there is something she must do.she pauses, studying the stranger's pleasant expression.
i cannot know until they tell me.
she looks to her brother again, a little apologetically.
i will ask them. but we must be patient, yes?