Moonsong Glacier mama cuts like a man-of-war

Dutch laughed at Sumac's wonder, though he didn't mean it mean-spiritedly. "They are slow moving on land," he assured the other man, "But very graceful in the water. Those teeth are for catching fish."

For all that he enjoyed being thought wise and worldly, the panther was still eager to observe the seals. Simbelmyne's stories had given him even more reason to be interested in them. He wondered if Sumac would be entertained by tales of selkie women, but it seemed that they ought to cover regular women, too.

"Of course," the panther agreed. But he had to think for a long minute, turning over all his experience and all that he'd observed in his mind. What had worked and what hadn't. Which relationships had lasted and which ones had crashed and burned.

"First, you must know that looking at a woman is not the same as seeing her," he said, crossing his paws one over the other as he settled in on the ledge. Apparently, all thoughts of fishing had been set aside. "Women are beautiful to look at, but they are extraordinary to be seen. If you are to court a woman, you must be sure that you see her. That she is powerful, and that her spirit is a river meant to carve through canyons. If you do not see this, you must step aside, and you must do her the courtesy of letting someone else try to see her."

He was thinking about Tulugak, of course. But he was thinking about his mother, too. He was thinking about Simbelmyne, and how he believed in her power but he did not know the shape of it. He was thinking about Shady Grove, and how Slow West had fallen down to worship her on the day that they met.

"Once you can see a woman," he went on, "You must get her to see you. Women like gifts — but bring them more things they don't need than things that they do. Meat is a thing a husband brings a wife. Gifts are frivolous. Bring her something pretty, or something rare, or something it took great effort to collect.

"Sometimes, they will test you. You should do your best in these tests — but only a woman know what is success and what is failure. You may feel that you have failed, but you must let her be the judge of this. Her eye is discerning, and she must see most of all that you know your own strengths, and that you have put them to use as best as you are able.

He smiled.

"But for all this, women are the same as you and me," he said, directing his gaze back to the seals. "You talk, and you find that you get along. And if you like what you see, you tell her this. Sometimes, that is all it takes. Other times..."

He lifted his shoulder.

"A woman knows how she wants to be courted," he decided. "A good match will not seek to confuse or waylay you. Be honest, and be respectful, and look for ways to make her smile."