Totoka River talgaktuk

If there was a next step to this dance, nobody had taught Kigipigak. His youth had been characterized by rough play with men, dangerous and difficult lessons from the elder warriors of his village, and very rarely anything that resembled affection.

He was glad that it was reciprocated. Equally so, Kigipigak felt a wave of unease sweep through him. It was the sort of thing a boy might feel after their first dalliance with the opposite sex — and even if he had wanted to do more, to explore more, to know Sakhmet in some deeper way, he felt somehow blocked by this awkward little feeling.

Better to sit together and be at peace, he decided. They could linger here for a while and then if hunger struck, or another need, they could unfurl and begin to roam again; but for now, Kigipigak had found beneath the apple tree was enough.

Fading!