Moonspear aippaapak ⋰

"tutaalugaq," kukutux said as maggak came near. her song halted, the woman settled onto her haunches, inviting the baby girl into her arms, offering the same to acrux a warm look as well.

"this is the skin of a deer," laid viscera-side up. "we will pull the .... qiaqaqtuq away." it was not quite correct, the word she had used, but the meaning was clear. "look."

pulling gently away, kukutux flicked her teeth along the surface, moving in crouched steps as she stripped the bits of flesh and tissue, collecting them into a neat ball that could be safely eaten by a curious or bored child. she had fed her own bits of fat and gristle this way, keeping the infants close to her as she worked.

"then we will put it deep in the water for three days," kukutux went on, glancing between the two. "and after this, we dry, and then it is chewed until it becomes soft. this takes a hand of time, many days. it is why we sing."