The crunch of bone in a stone bone was such a lovely sound. Crack crack crack crunch crunch crunch. When the cracks became less, and the crunching more frequent, thats when it became obvious that the bone was breaking down. It had to be done just right however, as if the bone was not entirely dry it would turn to paste not powder, and that was the last thing they wanted. They needed white powder to decorate and work with. To experiment with. Bones of men, bones for bread. Bones to see what would soon become of the dead their mind sang in childlike melody.

Crack crack crack crunch crunch crunch.

The bones slowly began to turn to that fine white dust. The fragments now small enough to become paste if one added liquid. Blood or water were the two favored. One for ritual one for color. Both worked, both were good, but Lure preferred the water. Else the paste could end up thick goopy pink. Great for a ritual or something but- not for looks and this bone dust was for looks. For making them appear more frightening than before. Maybe give the left over dust to some of the sages for whatever it is they did with the stuff. Probably roll around it, the dusty coots.

Crunch crunch crunch grind smash pound.
The dust occasionally lifted into the air in a tiny cloud and settled on their hands. It was nothing hugely disturbing, but it was a minor annoyance. Wasted in a way since it would not dye the skin or linger long, but if anything, it helped signal how close the whole process was to being done. To being completed for the next stages.

Grind smash pound sift sift sift.

The next stage was making sure it was all those same fine specks. Running the dust through cloth, picking out fragments to work on, setting aside what was completed. Once they had the bone dust they'd work on the salt and then the dried squid ink. Dried squid ink was always the fun one. Turned everything such a dark black. Deep and endless and letting humans who saw them tremble as they gave into pure despair. The darkness in their hearts reflected in the hands that they could not see, digging into their very souls, ripping the screams from them as their bodies and minds broke apart and- ah but Lure was getting ahead of themselves. Later is when that would all begin. later, when they had little to worry about.

Sift sift sift-

As the final check went through, Lure looked to the bowl of fine white bone dust, a smile splitting their face nearly in half. Plucking at a few loose feathers from their hair they checked the quality, the stalk white to vibrant blue of crushed and ground lapis lazuli. Perfection. Human bones always yielded a much higher product than animal. Sure, they changed when brought from the mortal realm to that of the tower, but it held up very well. Dried so neatly once you sucked out the marrow.
The scavenger giggled and they got the other ingredients ready, filling bottles and jars with the dyes for what would be their new dress- or not dress. Cloak was a better word. New outfit made of skin and fur. Legs clattering, their own bones holding them upright they scampered to another tent, the head splitting smile full of fangs as they offered a small vile of the dust in exchange for all they needed- a tiny insect that would eat a man's mind.

Just one ingredient needed to begin the harvest yet to come.