Ocean's Breath Plateau avappasugjuk ⏧

Time had begun to mend his relationship with his mother. He stayed close, but not too close. Paid the occasional visit to the borders of her village, Moonglow. Never stepping within, unsure of the reception awaiting him. He did not turn towards Moonspear, where his sister reigned. A sister who still believed him a ghost. He would not force her to rebuild anything with him, if she was not accepting.

Saviguk, now Mauruk, yearned to know his extended family. He was excited in knowing two younger sisters were destined to become mothers any day now. But would he be allowed near? Allowed in their lives? Or would they too, reject him as Sialuk had?

Fate had a cruel twist in mind, instead.

A shattering song of anguish, in his mothers voice. Relaying to him a painfully encoded message. He had never wanted to hear such skewering emotion. Never again. Yet here it was. His instincts kicked in, sending him racing towards the borders of the seaside village. The drive to be close, comfortingly, protectively around those of shared blood, overriding any immediate caution.

Only when he grew ever closer, catching the taint of birth and blood in the air, did his legs feel like jelly, forcing him to slow down. As if struck, he kept on the outskirts of the scene. As if afraid to venture near and behold the still form of the sister he never knew. 

They could turn on him. He was supposed to be dead. A bad omen.

He wretched, dry heaving. Hung his head, grimacing with guilt. "No no no. Not her. It should be me. No, take me!" He whispered for no one. No one but Sedna. A son returned, in exchange for a daughter. 

This was all his fault.