December 30, 2023, 06:56 PM
After the hunt was over, the work was not and Sulukinak wove from camp to camp, witnessing much. She saw how hide was cut, how meat was shared, and while snow fell for a few hours the work never eased. The women of Kukutux' camp tended to wounds. Those that led each hunting party saw to their hunters, and returned to their camps.
She lingered on the outskirts of Moonsong's camp and that was where she met the pale bear of a man, Kaluktuk. She had thought herself stealthy enough to keep out of sight; but when he found her, he gave chase. Sulukinak had tried to escape his eye, and used what she had learned of the plains along with her finesse upon snow to find a path away; but, he seemed to be awaiting her at every turn.
When they were alone, his bristling made her shrink. His voice boomed with authority in a way Sulukinak had never experienced before and she was made afraid.
Sulukinak had no words for this man! Of all she had seen in this hunting place, this man was as close to those her mother had warned about. The look in his eye was hard, and the way he crowded her with words, overwhelming. She shrank and curled and wilted there, and cowered, until he was finished and had left her.
Then, taking time to gather herself, Sulukinak darted across the snow for the safety of another camp.
She lingered on the outskirts of Moonsong's camp and that was where she met the pale bear of a man, Kaluktuk. She had thought herself stealthy enough to keep out of sight; but when he found her, he gave chase. Sulukinak had tried to escape his eye, and used what she had learned of the plains along with her finesse upon snow to find a path away; but, he seemed to be awaiting her at every turn.
When they were alone, his bristling made her shrink. His voice boomed with authority in a way Sulukinak had never experienced before and she was made afraid.
You put many at risk by leaving like that.The man thundered.
If you were not ready to hunt you should have said so, and voiced to be sent with the healers. Or with the children. Instead when we needed you, you ran. How do you expect to be trusted by Moonsong when you run?
Sulukinak had no words for this man! Of all she had seen in this hunting place, this man was as close to those her mother had warned about. The look in his eye was hard, and the way he crowded her with words, overwhelming. She shrank and curled and wilted there, and cowered, until he was finished and had left her.
Then, taking time to gather herself, Sulukinak darted across the snow for the safety of another camp.