Paradise Falls because the wind is high it blows my mind

Miriam seemed to match her enthusiasm, further emphasizing the positive shift their interaction had taken. There would be many lessons to take from this night, for sure.

Addy tilted back her head to take in the patches of sky visible above their heads, the rain momentarily forgotten despite the incessant pattering all over. It pecked at her eyes and forced her to look away again. There had only been darkness anyway, clouds obscuring the celestial speckling Miriam spoke of. She would need to observe them the next time night came with a clear sky, and match what she saw with memories of this conversation now.

She gave herself a shake, adding to the dousing of everything else with the spray of water coming loose from her fur. It stuck out in clumps all around, but the moment she stopped the rain began its diligent work flattening every strand back down.

"So they're like birds then?"

Her head tilted from one direction to the other now. She and her father were nocturnal too, why did she never see anything else up there? Perhaps they were too small and too high up, like how insects seemed to vanish into the sky? Didn't they ever need to land then, to eat and drink and for their daylight slumbers?

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

Birds. Miriam pondered it for a moment, not entirely sure if it properly fit. It seemed like it might. She hummed, her tail thumping lightly against the ground as she rested on her haunches and looked up. “Sort of… they are above the birds, and even the birds answer to their wisdom.” She offered again. “They walk amongst the sun and the moon. They rest whilst the sky is bright in the day and guide lost wolves in the dark of night.” She hoped it made more sense.

The north star was one of the oldest ancestors pawsteps, a constant guide to those who knew to look for it. Those who did not were prone to get lost in their ignorance of those who had come before them.

They drank from the darkness of the night, sustained themselves off of souls helped. At least, that was what hse had been told, and what she felt deep in her bones. She offered the essence of her life to them in exchange for their wisdom and their guidance, a balancing act day after day.

Oh, other animals heeded them as well? Didn't they have their own ancestors, or was it a collective matter? Probably the latter, Addison decided, for it only made since that they would be just as interconnected as their earth-bound relations.

Addy wanted to see one. She determined it then, with all the seriousness of a vow, within her young heart. She was gonna find an ancestor.

Her gaze wandered as she sunk back into her own thoughts, and they landed back on the two remaining milk teeth. Two. Addison moved to pick up one, and motioned to the other with her teeth. It was only polite, she thought, not considering how odd or even rude it might come across to ask someone to interact with someone else's dead tooth.

"You can drop one if you want. We'll go back when these're gone."

Addison bounded back over to the river promptly after; if Miriam declined, she'd come back and deliver the the remaining, tiny piece of bone to the minute whirlpool herself. She would likely have many more questions for the yearling on their return trip. For now, she focused on finishing her offering.

Whispering a final "thank you" to the water as it carried the final canine away into darkness.

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

Miriam had not communed with the birds, only assumed that they had heard the wisdom because the wisdom was cast all over the earth… it spread infectious, like a weed taking root… or more of a harvest, instead. Her eyes turned to the tooth, staring at it for a moment as she asked to move the tooth into the water… it phased Miriam little. She had seen similar rituals before, and she did not think it too weird or rude… but then again, she was an often odd individual.

She would pick it up, delivering the remains behind her, just glad to take up what was an important ritual to the girl. She would drop it, hearing the muttered thank you before turning and taking her own leave with a woof to say goodbye.

Finished