Duskfire Glacier at aaktuktuk |<

As the boy took to tearing in to the hare, Kigipigak watched him. He looked strong and healthy, which made him wonder what had happened to either parent; but it was not something Kigipigak knew much about. Perhaps they were old, like his own father had been. Perhaps the sickness in the caribou had somehow branched to the two of them - which seemed unlikely, but, again, Kigipigak could plead ignorance.

The boy spoke as he ate. He offered up tidbits of information that piqued Kigipigak's interest. Better to focus on these, he thought, than what troubled young Veteran.

I know Lane. Kigipigak answered, smiling before he could stop himself. We have hunted together before. In fact, I have met you before too! But it was during your time growing within her. A strange point of fact, but Kigipigak thought it amusing. We hunted boar together just before you were born.

To hear that she was now issumatar of this glacier was not surprising; although Kigipigak had never imagined Lane in such a role, she was clearly suited to it. A mother and a hunter of some prowess — it was in this new light that he would see the woman now, aligning her mentally with Kukutux.