the place of the seal hunters remained busy.
when chakliux was not among their lodges, he hunted beside @Rodyn and @Taggak, congratulating his sons. further hunts took @Raiyuk from their lands for a time, his father sending a pack of salt meat for meals and feathers for trade.
he brought the tumbling children near the salt, to teach them how to stalk cormorants and pull the oil-rich pogyfish in dozens from the salt. moontide took another seal that week, portioned out between all.
@Chagak and @Kilalurak, @Puffin and @Sea Hunter and @Sirmiq all received their first pieces of sealskin, roughly the same size. "one day, skins will be lodge covers," he explained. "perhaps even this portion you may add to your first shelter."
how quickly time flashed!
@Red Leaf and @Ghelan received regular gifts of seafood, despite the disparity in their homes (for now, chakliux hoped). he left clams for @Sumac and @Raindrop as well, citing the excess as his reason.
the death songs poured from moonglow. ariadne was dead, and with her, kannoyak.
the seal hunter buried his grief for both, for now, allowing it voice only in the still soft moments before dawn, when he was alone with his tears at the shoreline.
@Marina — maintained, but her weakness continued. he was gentle with her, often spending the sunset in contemplation of the skylines. sunrises brought the seal hunter out to the cliffs and rookeries with @Tullik, gathering eggs and birds and speaking in quiet of a future for them all.
chakliux found his contentment and held it fast.