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Suddenly Jill stood up and clapped her hands once, and Jacinda was taken aback. But before she could say anything, Jill was in the living room. "Come on girls. Bed time."
They looked up at her with surprise. Jill dropped to her knees, gathering them into her arms. Her voice was soft and tender. "It's ok. Shhhh. Your mother needs you tonight. And you need her."
She stroked their hair gently. "Ah, my poor daughters. I know this is hard for you. But it will get better, shiyázhí."
And then, softly, she began to sing.
Chíí’ dóó chíí’. Yázho dóó yázh.
Hazhóó’ígo íłhosh.
Hazhóó’ígo íłhosh shiyázhí....
Jacinda watched, listened, entranced. It was barely audible, and yet she could hear it as clearly as if she were on the couch too. She didn't understand a single word of it. And yet, somehow deep down inside, she could. A lullaby, a mother's song to her daughter.
The voice she heard wasn't Jill's, though. It was a memory, from somewhere else. Someone else. Another time. Another place. Maybe her mother? But her mother had never been overly affectionate, at least that she could remember. Nor could she remember her singing either.
She tried to follow the memory, to coax it from its hiding place, but it dissipated, smoke passing through her fingers, steam rising from the cup in her hands. Only a lump in her throat remained, though. And yet, there was a quietness here. Peace. And something stirred within in her. Something he barely recognized.
The song ended and then Jill was business again, helped them get their coats and shoes. They gave their grandfather a hug and waved shyly at her, and then they were out the door.
The silence lingered. Hosteen seemed to like the quiet. She almost didn't want to break the mood. But...
"Will they be safe outside? If there are skinwalkers...and if it killed their father...."
Hosteen shook his head sadly. "No. He wasn't killed by the yee naaldlooshii. It was just an accident. Driving late at night. A cow on the road."
Jacinda was confused even as she felt tension- she hadn't even realized it had krept up upon her- drain away. She looked at the door again. "Oh. I had thought, well, with what you said. And your son-in-law..."
He smiled slightly at her. "When my daughter returns, I will explain. Jill doesn't know the whole story. And speaking of these things invites evil. I will only do it once."
Edited by Jacinda, Jul 9 2018, 05:36 PM.