Totoka River When the lights go up

A trade of food for information? That was not so bad. Kigipigak did not know if what the woman said would be valuable, but he did not mind the chance to hunt. He had hunted plenty of the large, ill things across the taiga.

Something small for this woman. He could see if any burrows held life, such as sleeping rabbits hiding from winter, or see if he could catch a bird. He was not so quick that it would be easy; plus, he wondered if he should care so much about the word of a stranger that he might throw himself in to this mission.

I will return. He intoned as he turned back, treading the way he had come. His focus was now on the surroundings and what he might find among them.

He was gone for some time. Long enough to perhaps cause doubt in the woman. It appeared as though Kigipigak had withdrawn from the agreement until suddenly, he was appearing again — breathing heavily around the lengthy body of a red-smeared ermine.

This he tossed at the woman when he caught sight of her golden fleece. He did not say anything after, as he was still catching his breath.