Moonsong Glacier avilaitkan (m)

If he had spoken his truth outright, she would run from him and he knew it. Of course she would want the village to thrive, and she would want children; she had been raised to want these things. Kaluktuk expected as much but had hoped her goals would be loftier; then again, he had been a father once before and had failed at it. He had been husband as well and that had not gone as planned, but this was something he chose to overlook. She had wanted a village and so she had set out and made one; now she wanted many children and had found a man to give her those too, strong ones, with northern blood. Kaluktuk found himself thinking about fatherhood.

What did he want of the future? I want you, more of you, all of you. And he'd had her now many times! Kaluktuk jested, kissing her cheek, nosing at her furs. A breath, a silence, and thinking. Are children all that you want? There is more to life than that. They could go places once her leg had healed, and see new things, or meet new people. They could hunt in the wilderness, or run to where the ice capped the world. They could live like seal hunters, or riverfolk, or see what lay further south. Children made things more complicated — but he did not say this. He smiles at her and with a conspiratorial vibe, comments, If strong babies are what you want, I will make sure you get them!

Deep in his heart he felt dread and doubt.