Shadewood haagax ⚘

it was in the warming wind of early evening that kukutux waited for @Cry at the borders. the furs within her den had been carefully stacked, the hardpacked dirt inside and out free of debris. her cache was filled with dried meat, just inside the entrance, and she had strengthened her scent around the small clearing, hoping to ward away any small animals that might attempt to take up residence.

across her shoulders was a new pelt, taken from the rabbit that the man called higoro had given her at the borders, and in its folds kukutux had placed three sticks of meat and a mouthful of caribou leaves. it would not be easy, what she meant to do, but gwen's growing belly and her own fear that she would be seen as a threat now dogged kukutux' waking hours, and she could bear it no longer.

having called lowly for the shaman, the little duck awaited him now, eyes half-closed at the strengthening pleasure of seasalt upon the breeze.