Ravensblood Forest kigutaiksuk √

Now did not seem to be the time of elk or caribou, and so Kilgitsuk did not hold out much hope to find signs of either. He knew that at least one of those could be sighted in the north — which might entail a visit to his old village, a prospect he did not look forward to. He felt glad, then, that Ariadne had requested an elk tooth rather than the crown of the northern tuktu.

He caught a glimpse of gold rising over the ridge. He smelled the freshly cut herbs that the woman gathered before he connected the two; and then as he approached, he was slow and careful — and then friendly, calling out: Hail, medicine woman.

A small nod to her, when her eyes opened. He thought to warn her against solitary travel, but did not want to come off as strange or threatening, so he held his tongue on that.