Ouroboros Spine a familiar sense of grief

He did not like to see his mother so affected. It wasn't the emotion that she displayed or the containment of that emotion, but to see her usual calm and focused demeanor disrupted in such a way was not normal for Mojag.

Shikoba was as ever-present, warm, and constant like the sun; this conversation felt different in the way the air shifted when clouds got in the way. Where before Mojag's mind went to the stars when he thought of Inutsuk, from this point on he would be reminded of such things as summer storms, clouds that added pressure with every layer, and his mother in such distress.

There was a shift to the conversation after that. Mojag was aware enough to know a redirect when he heard one, and was glad for it. His mother asked about his hunting and the boy beamed, putting aside all of his confusing thoughts about his absent father, his role as the man in the family, and all the rest.

There was a squirrel! And after that, the man with his sons — the pale man — he needed a guide to the best hunting places, he spoke of Kigipigak, his enthusiasm overflowing. So I showed him and he said, soon, the boys would be hunting together. His tail swayed a few times as he outlined this plan.

It did not yet occur to Mojag that this was the role of a real father, or that he would be missing out because of the absence of his own.