Ocean's Breath Plateau sisterblood

a pale ear flicked, and chakliux might have frowned had he not controlled himself. he did not know the mind of the older man; he had only meant to compliment towhee as a fellow hunter, for why would a woman of her age want to marry again? old seal hunter women were happy enough to be alone, having outlasted one or two or sometimes three husbands, for hunters did not live long on the sea ice. surrounded by children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren not so rarely, they ate seal fat and kept the old stories alive, they taught their crafts and travelled between villages.
"inside the lodge, to the right side, there is a bed of good deerskins. please sleep there, phox. i will remain here." he would not be cold with his fluffed fur and younger blood; the older man needed to be out of the elements. in this, he meant to show his son how a respected hunter should be treated.