Duck Lake cousin elk

once more dutch reaffirmed him and their mission; once more chakliux faced into the fangs of the wintertime wind and his nostrils burnt with the cold, and he felt confidence flood through his veins once more.
he had not lost it, but what he had lost was time; with raiyuk, with tullik, with marina. he had lost time in preparing his son, in soothing one wife, in teaching another. 
and the monster had stolen this from him.
"yes. come home with me, dutch," he said, at last relenting with a flash of his teeth. "and then go on your journey." his eyes were regretful that he could not go upon a second with the spine-man, but not truly so, for he would be taking raiyuk on a path that was to change both their lives.
"you have no wives and or children." the mouth quirked, but chakliux was watching the ducks as he spoke, not staring at his companion. he only wondered.