ORIGIN

Lazy days.

There was something going on off by one wall--she'd seen that, a hole burst through it--but other Gembound had gone to check it out. She left it alone, for now; the bones had whispered of cycles returning what had been sown, to finally be reaped. She hadn't been around when whatever was created was created, and so she let it be.

Senka was no longer a fear at the forefront of her mind. At last, after over two years of recovery, Giggle's mind was nearing something at least resembling a healthy state. It wasn't perfect, by any means--but her wit had returned, to some extent. Her cynical humor.

Sometimes, she was even happy.

Now she lay atop the ledge which overlooked her bone pit, gazing out at Canis. At the far walls, at the piles of bones, at the stalagmites hanging like so many teeth from the roofs. She was fed; she had had her share of water. She had rested.

She was content.

Beside her, the black Hallowed Caller hopped up, its single red eye peering. Its curiosity came to her as feelings, as images, but her mind translated it as best it could into words.

Why has no one come, mother-sister?

Giggle grunted, responding aloud, though she made sure to make her own emotions clear along their link. "They're busy. I suppose. Lots to see, lots to do. And this magic, it's filling everything. I wonder why?"

She glanced down at the bones, but they were unchanged from the last time she had thrown them. Usually someone or something--often Omen herself--had scattered them at least a little. Perhaps, then, the magic was unchanging--or again, part of a cycle. It had happened before, at least once in her recollection.

Hopefully another drought wasn't going to follow.

Will they come again, mother-sister? Her familiar tilted her head. She was wary of strangers, yet curious of them, and Giggle gave a soft snort as she glanced at her.

"They might. I don't know. If they come, I will read them the bones. If they do not, I am content."

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ROLL THE BONES

The hyena pricked big, round ears as one of her children came skittering in. Warmth flooded her and she stood, padding over and leaning down to nuzzle at Skeena, affectionately.

"Skeena. A good hunt, yes?" She pulled back some to look over the rat, pleased that her children were thriving. This prey, compared to her child, was oversized--yet Skeena had triumphed. This was good; it boded well.

"How are you?"

Her others had left the cave--and she had no idea if they would return. It was good to see the little one, at least, lingering from time to time. Giggle hoped she would find her own way, of course, but still--the occasional company was more than welcome.

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ROLL THE BONES

Giggle listened, big rounded ears swivelling slightly. The scent of blood spiked in her nostrils as she thought over her child's question.

"Hmm," she began thoughtfully, lowering herself to her broad haunches. "I have seen them come to the bones. Mostly they stay by the western wall but many do chew on them. I do not know why. Perhaps they want the dead gone. Perhaps bones are food to them. Bones are food to me," she added, "but more the fresh ones!" An amused laugh rang out, rolling through Canis, and the hyena settled some, offering Skeena a brief nuzzle.

"And I have been fine. All is fine. Omen is fine. What have you learned?" And then, as an afterthought, as the hyena flopped down onto her chest and sent a small cloud of fungal spores all around her--"Is there anything you want to learn?"

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ROLL THE BONES