Deepwood Weald arctocephalus

The stories were varied, and were muddled with the lessons that ice mother had shared. Sulukinak did not think of herself as a great storyteller. She thought of those many lessons passed to her or her brothers, and suddenly felt exposed. Or, maybe that wasn't the correct way to see it; Sulukinak felt those moments were precious and scattered now, as she was far from home and her relationship with her mother had become so foul, so confused.

She went quiet when the man asked after the stories. These were precious things. These were histories and lessons taught mother to daughter, and Sulukinak felt she should not share them - dared not; because what else did she have to cling on to, to remind herself of what she loved and lost?

It wasn't too long before Sulukinak recognized she had not answered Dutch. Her silence was answer enough, and should he look at her again, he would see indecision curving her ears back.