Northstar Vale Afterglow

they said nothing to one another; gold capitulated first, and in it kukutux felt she had her answer.

heart ached as she stepped past agana into the den, leaving the pelt at the door. she busied herself preparing a meal for both of them from their meager stores.

tears threatened to sting her eyes, but the duck willed them back through fierce will and brought agana the leg of a pheasant that still sparkled with ice crystals.

"i go out into the mountains to pray tomorrow," kukutux murmured, head bowed over her own meal. she was desperate for anything to fill the silence between them, even the emptiness of words that she could just as well leave unsaid. agana would not mind that she meant to leave again; had not the mink avoided her this long?