<333 apologies now if she says anything mean
the position of sivullik was something that shikoba prided herself on. it represented the hard work she has put in for Moonglow and the trust that not only moon woman and sun man has put into her, but the rest of the village that resides in the spine. it was proof that shikoba was unwavering in her work and in her family. it proved that she was constant.
yet everything else in her life has undergone a metamorphosis. her son has disappeared, akin to his father. though only the latter has returned to the borders of the spine, perhaps a bit unwelcomed by the native. as far as shikoba was concerned, inutsuk was only a spirit after she saw him before the death songs were sung. when he did not return, she had to cast away all the thoughts she had of his body and soul. her focus remained on Moonglow only.
now, he remains in an ulaq that he once dug for himself. no longer wrapped up in the furs that she had collected or even her own warmth. and perhaps this was punishment in itself. personally, shikoba would have demanded he sleep outside, but she knew that his health must return before she can demand answers. and so, she stands before the mouth of his ulaq with a ptarmigan hanging from her jaws.
her expression is hard to read, perhaps letting on the fact that she was unsure of being here in the first place. she may have let him in, but that does not mean he is completely welcomed back into her embrace yet. she offers a chuff, letting him know of her presence. she would expect him to eat the bird, and if his strength had somewhat returned, she would then begin the inquisition.
his voice sounds weak, though the familiarity of it does bring about something fluttering in her chest. and for a moment, she thinks selfishly. he dares demand patience from his wife who felt abandoned in their marriage? her jaw tightens as she hears this, but reminds herself that she cannot receive answers if he does not feel safe enough to speak.
she swallows her anger, to the best of her ability.
"why did inutsuk leave?" this would be his first burning question, and perhaps the most difficult to answer. however, shikoba would demand retribution either way for the crimes against her by inutsuk.
she had not planned on taking another husband, nor probably bringing another litter into this world after the troubles with her first. she could not bare the sight of more stillborn from her womb. even more so, she had planned on having her bride price paid, as something to prove inutsuk was the hunter shikoba expected him to be. she had talked to moon woman about this. "mojag never saw inutsuk as tataa," she says to him, settling to speak, "he disappeared sometime after you." she can feel her heart twisting itself but she manages to keep her words calm and straightforward.
it was true, mojag had never truly gotten too close to inutsuk. a few interactions when he was young, of course. but as mojag aged, inutsuk was not present for such milestones. not for his first hunt or anything of the sort. shikoba has raised him by herself, and it has been the family of the spine who has stepped in in replacement of the father. both sun man and rodyn have been part of mojag's life consistently, if not from the beginning but during the critical times of his development. that was something inutsuk would never be able to get back.
she turns her head away from him, lips pulled up in a pained expression. mojag had calmed her when she had meant to speak to him about the disappearance of inutsuk. her son was more of a protector than her husband. and for a moment, shikoba snaps. "I tried to help," she says through gritted teeth, "but inutsuk always pushed me away." she remembered the day that she asked about names, and the cold shoulder her husband had offered.
she turns to face him, tears burning her skin as they are caught within her tufts of fur. "How do I trust you again? To stay here with Moonglow? With ME?" shikoba cries out, frustrated in so many ways yet still holding onto the hurt she has tried so hard to bury.
he was willing to work, or so he says at least.
she would have to put him to the test then. but for a moment, she thinks of the softness that lingers in his touch. it is not in her nature to want to be cruel. but it is within her right to demand tribute from the man who promised her everything yet left her with nothing.
she could not send him after mojag. her little boy would not even recognize his father.
so instead, she must think of the tasks she had spoken to the moon woman about. she sniffles for a moment, shaking loose tears from her face as sulphuric eyes stare at her husband.
"then inutsuk will prove it." this would be his penance, his work to be done in order to receive her trust and the trust of Moonglow. but should he fail to provide or leave again, she would expel him from her lands and her heart.
"when you are better," she stands up now, retracting herself away from him,
"we will talk. about what is to be done."
we can continue here if you'd like or jump ahead to a present-date thread after inutsuk is a little more healed up. whatever yu prefer!
"it will be done."
without another word, she would turn away to leave him with his meal and perhaps to let him rest more. she would call for him when the time came. but for now, time was all that he needed. and it was something that shikoba did not have the patience for. as the days would come to roll on, she would think of the tasks to give him.
last from me, feel free to reply or archive!