Qeya River envy

if it ever got to be bad out here, with the winter, we could go to the glacier —

these words, kivaluk plays over and over in his mind; attempting to make sense of them. what did it mean if it got bad? that they would run out of food? too exposed to predators that lurked in the neighboring territories to the river? relocate? his head spins with the questions he does not have the answers to; torn between stubbornly rooting in his paws and saying no like a captain going down with their ship or deducing that there was merit to it.

he was not sure what exactly to expect of this winter ...but the way the adults spoke it sounded like it would be strenuous. testing natigvik in a way they may not have been tested before.

lestan goes on to mention about someone with blue eyes. for a long moment, kivaluk assumes he is speaking of a wolf and while is a bit perplexed by the sudden change in subject realizes with a twitch of embarrassment that lestan was talking about a deer.

having had nothing to add to the grim-esque speak of winter kivaluk has remained quiet; breaking it only to let out a soft laugh. it occurs to him in the moments later that it had been rude; but noticing a deer had blue eyes? naming her? that meant an attachment that made kivaluk side eye lestan.

why? he blurts out, unsure even if it was explain to him if he'd ever understand. they are prey and i am the hunter. kivaluk says as if it explained his behavior moments ago. why make it more complicated than that?