The Heartwood aupaqtuq ⏜

satisfied that her offering had been accepted, kukutux considered the other woman's question. it was direct, and her companion was kind. therefore the duck saw no reason not to respond in the same way. "i am kukutux, atsak in moonspear. it means that i make matches for those who are still unmarried."

it was the first time she had ever spoken of herself in such a way; jadeite glance was shy but wondering, and she filed a squirrel bone between her own teeth, matching the snap of ivory against that of the stranger.