Bitterroot Valley kiira-k ikug-luk

she had spoken of a husband.

and yet this man still sought to command her.

was he so brazen that he did not know the proper respects?

kukutux rounded upon him, stopping stiff in the snow. "it is the songs of my village which have given many hands of caribou to both our hunters and the ones of village duskfire. there was sickness in the herds when we came. our together-running has cleansed much of it. you lost your caribou because you offended its spirit when you stopped the words of respect. if you come to my camp and if you are given the hospitality of a trader at the hearth of moonwoman, you will not be so disrespectful."

her eyes snapped with green fire. "if you follow for six nights, it brings a bad spirit to follow a night of seven." it was clear that the caribou had not wanted to give itself. she thought him too old to be a young hunter upon a soul-hunt.

her eyes sparked with green fire. kukutux would only give to a man deference until he had seen to trample it under his foot.