Ouroboros Spine pivalliak ⧃

The fresh blood-scent drew him closer. It was enticing enough for Nuak to ignore the presence of Kukutux' stronger scent, but he was wary on his approach. The sound of the earth being tilled gave him a clue. Someone had hunted a fresh thing and he need only be patient to take it.

He glimpsed something from between the trees — a pale shape — and slowed his approach, ultimately stopping where he could shroud himself in pine shadows.

There she was, the witch. Had she done something to the creature she had caught? It smelled fresh and Nuak could not discern anything arboreal or terrestrial about it; he knew the smell of fresh and dry herbs from his time in the dead healer's grotto, and there was no such sign of corruption.

Then again, the wind did not favor him, and he was hidden. He watched for signs of spellwork from her, convinced there would be signs of her duplicity.