Moonspear as side-passed lovers lost in the dark

downcast eyes did not see the humour upon his face, and shame flashed its sudden beacon in her chest. she had misunderstood, shown her ignorance before arcturus once more.

tears of frustration pricked the back of her gaze, and then she turned it toward herself, the quick and hateful light. why was she this way? every small conflict, every tiny misadjustment; each sent kuktutux into a frenzy of shy silent sobs.

too weak. too sensitive.

she turned her mind to what he was asking, demanding that it stay put for a desperate moment. "we say a spirit has taken up residence in her ... igliaq and must be purged." 

a flick of her green eyes to his own. "the skin that bleeds upon the antlers of buck deer in the warm months. she must eat it. she must keep her belly warm with rich food. and she must eat wild raspberry leaves."

a low sigh; kuktutux pulled her gaze away. "but all these things can only be collected when it is true spring. she may not be able to attempt for children this year. and next may be too late." she did not wish to hurt arcturus, only impart the delicate and potentially disappointing nature of these things.