Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 8)

Ky nodded. “Do you have a favorite one, personally?”

"Talemaster or folktale?"

Ky grinned at that. “I suppose both; though I’d meant folktale.”

"Well, I can't pick a favorite Talemaster. But my favorite might be The Bear and the Ermine Hunter."

Ky had a sneaking suspicion that the answer to the first was Yra, with how enthusiastic everyone was to introduce them. But it felt cruel to make her pick, especially since they hadn’t even crossed her mind in the first place. So she nodded. “What’s it about?”

(You fully do not have to come up with a story like before unless you wanna haha like I would love it if you have one in mind but I also know how much effort that takes so don’t feel obligated lol)

(I'd be happy to! It'll take me a bit longer to respond but I can get it done.)

(Sounds good then! I’m excited to read it! ^-^)

"Well, it's about a young ermine hunter shortly after the unification of the tribes. He wandered into the cutoff between the settlers' land and the tribal land--our territory was much smaller back then--while he was chasing a particularly large ermine. He met a white bear there, and it spoke to him. It knew his name and his family, and it told him he was trespassing on the bear's land and killing the bear's prey.The bear told him if he helped it catch seals for a year on the ice beyond the land, his debt would be repaid. The young man agreed, and he went to live with the bear on the ice for one year. They became fast friends--the bear was very quiet and so was the man, so it suited them just fine. There was always something strange about the bear, though. It would disappear from their snow cave late at night and not return until noon the next day, and it was gone all of the winter when the sun slept. The man asked the bear about this a few times, but it wouldn't tell him anything. I'll leave it at that." She smiled. "It's a fantastic story."

“Wait, no, what happened? Where was he going? And what are ermine?” Ky protested. And then caught herself and blushed profusely. She was being so juvenile. “Nevermind, sorry. Thank you for the story. Sorry.”

"You'll have to read it for yourself if you want to know the end." Sara grinned at her. "And ermine are little weasel-like creatures whose pelts turn a gorgeous white in the winter time. There's a stuffed one in the artifact room, I think. The pelts sell for a quite a lot in the East, but back then they were hunted for practical uses like making bags and gloves and the like."

“Oh, interesting. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.”

"They're pretty common around here, especially in wooded areas."
"They're pests," Sera added. "Usually."

Ky nodded. “It seems like it’d make more sense to get bigger animals if you want fur.”

"Yeah. But they're warm. Their pelts are just..." Sara sighed. "We couldn't afford ermine back home. Getting married to Gaius invited me into this world of unimaginable softness."

Ky smiled. “I’m glad you’re able to enjoy them now.”