Ouroboros Spine oh the mountain top, oh the visions stopped

Today was the day! He wasn't quite at one-hundred percent but Kigipigak wouldn't let that stop him from making his way out of the ulaq and beyond, with Kukutux guiding him.

The travel was slow and substantially more arduous than what Kigipigak expected; he knew he still hurt and needed time, but he also thought of himself as strong, and he could not disappoint his kin, Sakhmet, or his own masculinity. If he couldn't make this trip then that would be an insult to the girl at the end of the road, who waited for him.

Her call came and they hadn't even made it halfway down the paths. Kigipigak grew agitated as he heard it and pushed himself a little more, to the point that he was breathing with more strain than necessary and was forced to slow down or stop more frequently; this went on until the edge of the village came in to view — and there, the red-black of the girl standing in contrast to the white-barked trees at her flank.