Ouroboros Spine nature of life on earth

Reuniting with anaa had given Sialuk hope that others had survived, but she refused to believe that until she saw them. And even then, could they really be real? She second-guessed herself at each step, wondering if her mother was but a spirit, here to comfort her until she could handle the truth of things. Still, this small ring of mountains was quickly becoming her home, temporary or otherwise.

A hacking sound put her on edge, and Sialuk froze mid-step to listen, hoping to locate the origin of the sound. When she did, she realized she knew the wolf.

Meerkat? Is it really you?