The Silence of the Choked Stone

Autumn, the Month of Stars.
Ten nights remain until the Star Festival.

The chief's tent was thick with the heavy gazes of the clan.
Uta stood before Gald and demanded the Rite of Succession.
Gald pulled that "singing stone" from the depths of his shelf. A smooth stone, overly polished and decorated, its natural edges shaved away by human hands.
"If you are the Hearer, recite the song of the wind trapped within this stone, here and now," Gald said.

Uta touched the stone.
It was far too smooth, and far too cold. Too much human handling had choked its voice.
Not a single flutter, not a single vibration reached Uta from its depths.

"The stone shuns the eyes of onlookers and has closed its shell. Let it sleep in peace, so the voice is saying."
Uta chanted solemnly to the gathered clan. As she spoke, her fingertips were entirely numb.
Gald laughed softly and declared that the rite would be postponed. The eyes of the clan enveloped Uta like a cold mist. Their backs turned and drifted away.

Only at night, holding the bone comb alone like this, does Uta admit the truth.
The voice said nothing. That stone was merely silent. Uta had only spun convenient words to survive the moment.

As Uta grips the bone comb tightly, its sharp edges bite into her palm.
Nono. What were you apologizing for?
Uta has yet to receive the true succession.

Ten nights remain until the Star Festival.