Deepwood Weald arctocephalus

It was hard to track anything in this place. It was dark and grim with winter, and the fog only made things look less and less real. When a voice carried to her, Sulukinak startled and froze. Her eyes were wide and gleaming bronze discs, until she saw him. The mist clung to the ferns and seemed to snare the man in place; and Sulukinak watched him with a hunch to her shoulders, as if to make herself smaller.

She breathed, tasting the empty flavor of the anirniq which appeared to flow from the man. Ice mother had always kept her safe and hidden when strangers came to their island, and now that Sulukinak was here in the world, she did not know how to respond except to stare and to quiver.