At Black Stone’s suggestion, Azura followed him from the hot springs. She noticed some sweet rush which had grown by the springs but were now yellowed and dried; there were also some long spindly teasel. She cut these and carried them to  a sunny spot sheltered from the wind to dry. Azura used these to first curry the tiger’s fur and then to comb out his short mane. Once she was satisfied he had been groomed, then she turned her attention to her own thick, blonde hair.<br/><br/>Using the teasle, she tugged through the tangles and few knots. She was one of the lucky women. Her hair didn’t tangle and knot. Many woman had hair that some clans called dreadlocks because they went so long without grooming, but Azura’s hair never did take on that look. While her hair wasn’t the rich golden blonde of her former days, it was still a healthy rich golden brown with streaks of silver and white giving it the look of being kissed by moonlight. She had always been a little vain over her hair and she admired it while running the smooth, wet locks through her fingers.<br/>Using her voice in the way of the Others, Azura said,<br/><br/>“You can smell the meat cooking from here. It makes my mouth water.<br/><br/>When this woman lived here before, there were shifters from the sea. They took the form of sea lions but were actually women, and a few but very few men. They have been gone from here a long time but maybe after all this time, they will have come home too.<br/><br/>Traveling with you to hunt will be fun and this woman hasn’t had fun to look forward to for a long time. The anticipation makes my stomach quiver with joy.<br/><br/>Now that you are here, we can go explore to the South  and see if the sacred singing stones still cry out in longing. Perhaps, even have a ceremony to thank the Sheema for sending you back.”<br/><br/>Azura’s speech was varied, jumping from topic to topic as if these thoughts, these words had been built up in her, waiting for the right time of life to spring forward like seeds underground spring to green life when the sun is warm upon them. She clutched her amulet and sent a silent prayer,<br/><br/>“This unworthy woman is grateful for the blessings, Ursus. Grateful for the presence of the tiger.”<br/><br/>With a smile, she poked Black Stone with her toe.<br/><br/>“Are you sleeping? Wake up. Let’s go eat.”