Ouroboros Spine uivigginattuk ⋬

Grats on 1000!

The warmth of their merged bodies dissipated when Kukutux moved away from him, propping herself up to think, to talk. All that Raimo wanted was to feel; this detracted from the experience for him, but he would never silence her. The sound of her voice filled the ulaq and he was silent as he listened.

She spoke of her fears. That she did not trust him, after all that he had done. Had he hurt her? Perhaps by way of his words, but he did not know how; he had done everything to please her, all that was asked of him. Never did he go against her. Raimo was perplexed by all that came flowing from Kukutux' mouth until the end — an insult she levied at him and a denial.

His lust hinged on his anger, and now that one was satiated the other took full form. Raimo pulled away from whatever embrace lingered between them and felt the cooling chasm of space, forcing himself to part from Kukutux before he could say or do something reckless. His jaw taut. The blackness of his shape serrating in mimicry of the spine-covered mountain that was their home.

Have I not done everything you have asked of me? He says this sharply, softly, through gritted teeth until the tension he feels can be controlled. He closes his eyes a moment. I have not spoken of our nights together with any— Oh. Oh. In his enjoyment of these nights Raimo had forgotten of his boast to Adrastus. Of course the man would try and use this against him. Pathetic.

You take Adrastus' word over mine. I have been here from the beginning, when you called to the wind for help. I asked for nothing in return you were not willing to give — and you abandon me to the jealousy of another man? He wanted my position, and I told him only what was required of that position. As sivilluk I am expected to bring about the future; this is all I said, which he took to heart. He pines for you like a boy for his first kiss. So many rhetorical questions. How he now loathed Adrastus; the man was not fit for the hunter's party and was corrupting Kukutux against him.

And Sialuk. Perhaps they were working together to ruin Raimo's story. He had known a good story needed an antagonist but he did not expect it to come in the form of a man and a girl child. Raimo looked to Kukutux and saw the anger in her gaze — he rivaled it in his entirety.

You think I would take your daughter from you before she was ready? I am not that kind of man. You should trust in me, you spend your nights with me while in the day I serve you, wholly. I only meant that in time, she may come around to trusting me as you do — as I thought you did. A hasty correction. He doesn't know what else to say, having said so much.

None of this mattered, now. Kukutux had been turned against him and as much as Raimo wanted to trust her, wanted to believe that what they shared was something deep and strong, he knew better.