kukutux glanced at the neatly appointed ulaq that had long been loved.

she had arranged her hides in corners; she had placed the riches of rodyn's trade nearby. rich furs blanketed the sleeping place, and she had set fresh herbs to dry upon the old set of branches which arched near the entrance.

fresh fish filled the ground-cache dug just outside, and the stone overhang of the comfortable den now held strips of new venison, slowly drying in the warm sun.

greenstone eyes took in the grounds where so many children had laughed, played; where songs had been sung; where women's circles had pillared in strength a mother laboring to bring new life into the village.

a place where grief had been heard and where tears had been shed;

where wives had come together with husband.

where sakhmet had smiled.

a soft worn wrap of red fox was about her shoulders. @Rodyn would be sivullik, and their new star hunter if he wished. she would tell this to arrluk before she set out.

and the ulaq of the moon stood ready.



with @Aiolos, kukutux walked the corridor of ensorceled dark branches which framed the pathway to that lake.

and she wept as they walked, and clung to sun man, burying her face in his shoulder.

the hurt was far too great.

"sweet girl. sweet dancer," moonwoman murmured as she lay upon the bank, pressing her cheek soft there in the reeds, forcing her paws into the water.

all at once it seemed to lighten, and the pain in her heart lessened; it seemed to bring less fear, a taboo broken in last by a woman who had been raised to see all their observation.

"ariadne," kukutux whispered, and wept a sweeter grief. "nutuyikruk lives."

in time she rose from watery edge, and, trailing foxfur behind, the duck sought in quiet those places once roamed by callyope, whispering power and life into each stone, each tree rendered silent by the absence of its moondaughter.