Qeya River kinnaktuk

her flat statement — while true — prickles at kivaluk; threatening to rankle him despite his best efforts to keep it from getting beneath his skin. i disagree, kivaluk says quickly, drawls in a breath and lets it out. but i won't argue. that wasn't what they'd been told to do and he didn't want to waste energy defending his trade choice.

a soft scoff leaves kivaluk's lips. i'm not a child.

it wasn't true, at least not entirely ...but as he hasn't felt like a cub in a long time he doesn't like being treated like one.

i'll 'show you what i've got' but don't treat me like a cub. that was all he asked and as far as he was concerened: wasn't asking too much.