Duskfire Glacier itkaktuk ⨢

as issoratuyok spoke of meerkat, kukutux wondered why he would surrender his terrain. it was not her way. he mentioned children. and though it did not seem that there was yet a clear path forward, moonwoman asked herself what it was that the man could not give. 

a new wife would want a steady home.

she wanted to caution him not to show weakness and surrender to boys.

it was not her place. they had moved on.

"meerkat is young," she agreed. but her eyes were filled with a wisdom she could not convey to a man. not in words that could be spoken. "upinngak," she said softly. "it does not only bring green plants."

she moved closer to offer issoratuyok her presence. "my husband, who is gone to the dancing lights: he did not choose me until that time came. he learned to know me first. and he was not of the snow." they had made such work well, the blackfox and herself.

"meerkat, i think, must understand what it means to speak directly. she does not understand what it is to be wife because it is not taught to women of this land. so they remain girls for a long while." it was easy to talk so openly with the moon-man.

she looked at issoratuyok. "you are chieftain. you are healthy. you will give strong children. duskfire has safeness in you. your heart is kind. what do you believe meerkat desires if it is not these things?"