Kildeer Rest tanaaiyak

she hoped that kigipigak would never cease how he spoke of the hunt. "a holy being," she breathed reverently and with pleasure.

kukutux observed how his features became unsure in a sweetened way. he spoke lane's name, and she held back her reaction. the duck knew better than to mention the plateau in this moment. but now she knew that the duskfire woman had searched for her kinsman there.

she did not at once answer. moonwoman stepped to unfurl the white skin where it lay. and as she searched it for the rot that reeked inside the sick caribou, she thought of another time. another pelt. another snowhunter. another gift.

there was nothing bad here. she looked up at kigipigak. "for a simple caribou pelt, it is nine days to cure. for a sacred hide, it will be twelve."

he knew what it was to wait. their people were born to patience.

"what did lane think of the snow caribou?" kukutux inquired.