Hoshor Plains world burn

The last of the supplies had been packed and prepared for their journey back to the glacier. Kigipigak was putting the last of the new hides in to a bundle when Ariadne appeared, collapsed, and sobbed in to their shared bedding.

Immediately the man dropped what he was doing to go to her. Ariadne? Wife, what is it? He thought of the man Chakliux had gone to hunt; he thought of the men he didn't know in the hunting camps and Ariadne's fire-time; he thought-- so many things and each worse!

She sobbed! He did not know what to do; to crowd was not helpful, to stay back felt cold and wrong. He crouched by the furs to be on her level and crooned a note to her.