Ouroboros Spine kinuk ⊹

"i know that you will do this thing," kukutux said softly. he was her kinsman in name and in village now, and she felt the spin of a thousand futures ahead of them each. 

his vow. she held it close, and in the silence that fell between them, she felt the tightening of their familial bond, new and rich even in its fresh nature. "rest now, iḷitqusiq," marvelling at the name again, how sweet its tone.

"when you wake, you will feel it more in your heart."

and something like joy under her breastbone. a man remade, lying in her ulaq and changed from who he had been during the first sleep against the pelts.