kukutux was certain that their paths had diverged, for she meant to be direct, and he did not understand her attempt to honor him. it did not provide offense to the duck, however; her mother had told her well of the thick mud between the ears of many men. it was why zane did not understand. it was why raimo had expected a barter. 

she gathered herself closer together, forcing stone into the line of her back though the leg throbbed with pain. some part of her wished to continue with more idle talk, but the greater sum of kukutux felt as though zane wore a rock shell and she had begun to pry it off.

an intuition she chose not to engage; she lifted her head.

there were two circles already upon the land. that of mother and daughter, and that of hunters. kukutux had no hand in the latter. it felt as though zane thought of himself more as trader, to bring meat until one day he did not, to be seen until one day he was not, to be heard until one day he had decided not to return. it was a fine life for a man who wished no kinship ties. yet such bonds had been integral always in the mind of the duck.

"if your hunter's eyes see something i must know, then come to me, pilannulik," she said softly, with no hostile inflection. but it was a seeking look all the same that kukutux gave zane before she turned, moving slowly back toward the ulaq if he said no more words.