Duck Lake aanniqtuq ☀

figure we could fade this out w another post from you? <3

to his offer, she nodded. he had questions, but kukutux was not yet ready to answer them. her spirit spoke, however; if he was to be her mate, then she must not keep herself veiled forever. the time of mourning was a moon. after that, she would be free to accept whatever overture he made.

"i am from an island, far away. we hunt the seal and sometimes the whale. we honour their spirits." she could not discern what cry meant by culture, except perhaps that the man was asking after her ways. well now he knew of her skill with the fish, and that men of her people took more than one wife. it was not uncommon for a man rich with the praise of his clan and skilled in hunting to have three, even four wives who kept his ulaq clean and bore him children.

being second was something kukutux could abide, but the girl knew that to be third or fourth would only make her soul bitter. cry seemed perturbed at the very idea of two wives, however; she did not suspect he wanted more than one. shyly she approached, bearing two long slabs of fish flesh, and lay them gently over his muscular shoulders. if he moved carefully, they would be able to carry.

the other two, she wrapped 'round the middle with her skin. but her name. he had asked after her name. the girl's gem-gaze beheld her ready bundle for a long moment. "it means young duck," came her quiet response. more than that, but the meanings would not be easily translated to one who did not speak her tongue.

lifting the burden in her jaws, kukutux moved to cry's tall side and glanced toward the man, ready to follow him to this land of his.