Shadewood ulu ⚯

long after he had gone, kukutux stayed as she was, letting the new snowfall collect over her shoulders. the meat was left where cry had pushed it; she stared unseeingly at the small pile, hunger clawing at her belly. but sorrow whetted a sharper knife, and soon tears stung the girl's eyes, caused her lips to tremble.

why had she left her people? why had she come here? it was a strange land, with customs that were not her own. not for the first time did her soul lament that kukutux had not released it to travel up, to be with the other spirits. 

a sob; salted droplets falling to the earth.

some time later, the girl turned stiffly and lay down in the cold recesses of her den, curling tightly into the leaf litter and shivering as a fitful sleep mercifully overtook her.