Ouroboros Spine evening star

nuak roamed the mountain. ilitqusiq slept within her den. 

the duck pulled a frayed martenpelt around her slim shoulders and slipped into the open air. she considered a cache upon the way, stropped her paws against the rough boles of pine trees. a tuft of her fur, caught in the teeth of an oak. moonglow was hers to nurture, this year's first child. she must not let it starve.

moonwoman's wanderings took her of course to the border. a foreign scent here, not one of her own. a frown crossed her smooth brow, and the featherbird's steps carried her after, until a flash of crimson appeared between the broken shadows. at first she thought it was only brother kayuktuk. 

but it was not; the shape was larger and shaped as a wolf was. a young hunter, perhaps, too visible against the marked line. kukutux barked to the fox-creature, a sharp, questioning sound. she did not cross to their border. not yet.