Duskfire Glacier itkaktuk ⨢

"then they must leave."

her jadestone eyes were somber.

"in the place of my birth, a young man lost his father. they lived alone in one ulaq. he had already lost his mother." she sighed, white steam pouring from her mouth into the cold air. "all the villagers gave him offerings of meat and soft words. they wished to give him healing. but he did not take it."

"a bad spirit came into him. he did not speak of his father or his mother. he chose to fight with the other young men. he demanded things that could not be offered from his village."

"one day his teeth were hard. they cut another hunter badly." she gestured to her face with a paw to say that an eye had been lost. "the village put him outside the borders. they said he should not come back. he was told to live as man now. he had become this when he struck another in that way."

kukutux looked to the moon-dog leader. "you made a journey with meerkat." her tones were knowing. but she would not mention what lane had told her. "i do not know what you will choose. but if children are born to your hearth, they cannot have anger close."