Bitterroot Valley katmiksuk ⦕

Kigipigak's name—said for the second time—brought to her mind the memory of their recent conversation. In his village, the men fought for the strongest woman. Could Sialuk ever be that? Would men fight for her, or would they scoff at her? The raindrop no longer held a position of power, so how could she hope to have men fight for her? She was no issumatar.

She knew her mother spoke, but the words did not reach Sialuk's ears, so caught up in her own thoughts. She heard only that he was a friend to Moonglow, and Sialuk nodded politely with a distant smile.