Kildeer Rest only the beginning

She was right. Kigipigak was so thoroughly loyal to the Tartok way of life that, if he wanted to, he could find Lane and fight for her, and make her his issumatar. He had been given the chance to be a father before — in Rivenwood — but it had not appealed then, and he was uncertain about now.

The way she stared him down was unsettling. He did not want to cause her distress. Neither did he think he deserved such strong words and intensity from Sialuk. She had asked him questions and he had answered — it was not his fault if she found the answers unsuitable.

The way she spoke now, Kigipigak did not like it.

We are to share the caribou. He stared blankly back at her, unsure of what else to say but the obvious. We will hunt together and celebrate. Is that not why moon-woman led us to the valley? It was not a question that required an answer.

He only meant to remind her of their purpose. Somehow during this conversation, they had both forgotten themselves. If she was angry, and she seemed so to Kigipigak, he wanted to make things right so they did not part with turmoil between them - but he was not empathetic enough to recognize the flux of a woman's heart.