Ouroboros Spine ugguanik ⏞⏟

THE SECOND SONG

foxpelt beneath her good paw, holding it. she had worked through the daytime hours in silence, barely speaking and only exchanging long glances with sialuk where relevant. there was no cause for words. she had stayed close to the ulaq, trading sleep for the whispered prayers.

those too she had passed to sialuk. in her life, she might say them many times, though kukutux hoped that it would not be so.

"daughter."

the sun, dipping below the stone heads of the mountain range once more.

a sigh breaking from the duck. she set her gaze upon moonspear. sing, the inner spirit urged; the green eyes closed. she felt sialuk close by, steadied herself upon the edge of her raindrop's presence.

lift yourself from bones now, beloved spirit.

there is a time to wait and a time to depart.

we sing you now to your home within the dancing lights,

when you open your eyes, you will be at peace.

tears for the second dusk falling, trembling alongside the red stains upon muzzle, red that had turned to burgundy in the night.