Silvertip Mountain kapiruk ¥

Kigipigak had deterred a quick death. Now he sat locked inside his body. The mud beneath was cooling for an hour or so; hot blood stained his shoulders, back and hips - his flesh scored by the cat's reach.

There was no telling if he saw Kukutux or if he heard his own name being called. If he could grasp at consciousness, if he did dream; he sat and he bled while she reacted to the sight of him.

Lucky that she had found him - that she knew what to do for someone in such a state. Kigipigak was not as far gone as one might think because of Kukutux' intervention; in time he did wake to the pain and the blood.

For a moment. He sensed a presence and heard her speaking their shared language, but lacked the focus to respond. A flash of copper as his eyes slivered; then sleep, as he warred with life and death.