Ouroboros Spine You won't know your worth now, son, until you take a hit

He stood at a distance from Kukutux, nearing the water. As soon as he was standing at the edge he dove for it, then messily began to gulp from the surface. It went down the wrong tube immediately and so he sputtered a bit but did not stop; the cool touch to his dry tongue did not bring relief but a stinging, and then it hit the back of his throat and the boy grew content.

The sound of sputtering from behind him drew his eye, and he whipped his head around too fast; a glare set upon his face as he watched Kukutux, thinking she was enacting some spell maybe, only to pause and frown after her. Water dribbled from Kiliutak's chin and rained to the surface of the pool.

Was she sick? The boy wasn't concerned; he told himself she was fine, that it was a trick. What such a trick might lead to, he did not know — but he was skeptical, and merely watched.