Ouroboros Spine uivigginattuk ⋬

in time, raimo's voice sounded behind her. kukutux wished again to feel his breath upon her nape, the snowfall of her shoulders. but it did not come, and she was tangled in desire and resistance when he spoke of surrendering sivullik. 

he has learned a swift lesson. manigotinik.

the moon turned to face the spear; she drew her gaze slowly across his features, mouth still touched by his kiss and her own tears. something bitter and something sweet. and there existed in the duck no sense of mistake, only a growing acceptance for the choice she had made and the burgeoning wisdom that she must mend this for the good of her clan.

"all this has happened because i am not yet — this is a role for one who has achieved many years. not a woman who is so newly without," voice trailing off.

the blackfox. kisuk. first in moonglow, now, offering what she knew was the right path for their village. "step down, for we must have peace between each of us. learn to be second. sivullik changes many times. i —" want you close, want you near, do not want you to leave, do not leave

something yet unknown tied into every corner of her desire for the shadowhunter, at whom kukutux now stared, mouth-tied and sick with the weight of all she had never wanted to bear.