Great Bear Wilderness iglaaguruna ❈

It was unwise to leave the island. She was still not perfectly healthy (her bruises had diminished somewhat and that was all) but the itch in her skin grew stronger by the day. Nukilik could not find comfort anywhere along the beach, nor did the shelter of the trees afford her solace; around her the island hummed with activity and an electrified excitement while the sisters finalized their claim. When they summoned everyone together for a meeting, Nukilik would not be attending.

The burning in her skin was only soothed by the frigid sea. As soon as she sank against the tide she felt relief; and the tugging of the ocean brought her a mild panic, so she kicked and swam, pulling herself across a sand bar and scrambling for solidity. When she looked back she was on the other side of a narrow divide which was steadily filling with water. It would be some time before the route home was exposed again — she would have to wait it out.

Thus the woman found herself upon the mainland once more. As the water dripped from her body she felt her skin chill, the outermost layer of her naturally thin coat gradually stiffened as the residual water froze. She tried to shake it off - then to run and warm herself - all the while thinking, 'Stupid girl! Stupid! Good way to freeze to death,' and she sought the forest in her frenzy. By the time she stopped running she was indeed quite cold; not even her breath made shapes as she panted, but she hunkered down all the same to try and retain what little heat her body was manifesting.