Starlight Starbright

Blue eyes stay locked on the stars as Keahi sits next to the painted dog. He was first soul she laid on eyes after her shipwreck, the first one show to her some kindness in these strange lands. Kione speaks and the red wolf hums softly in answer, allowing him speak without interrupting while also acknowledging that she hears him and understands. Eyes slide sideways to look Kione even as her head stays lifted, noting that the happy, chirpy dog she had raced has been replaced by a deep heaviness. Of course, she understands how he feels but Keahi doesn’t want to pry into his life so she remains quiet.

He speaks of the great predators that lay in the stars and Keahi looks back to glittering heavenly bodies, following his paws as he speaks of the fox spirits that live in that. A sad, wistful smile pulls at her lips as she remembers her own family’s stories of the stars. Kione points out a dimmer star, saying it is one of two wolf stars and Keahi dutifully asks, “What is its name?” Each place has their own customs and names for the heavenly bodies and the red wolf is curious as to what the painted dog calls it.

"Keahi Mogotsi"