Ouroboros Spine and down the road I'd go

Her question had him very briefly conflicted. He wondered if he was meant to feel strongly about the places that he'd settled, but — "It is a good place, but it is the voices that surround it that call to me, and not the deepwood itself," he admitted.

He thanked Kukutux for her thoughtfulness, and was similarly pleased by the idea of the children of the villages coming together. He imagined what the gatherings would look like come summertime — they would be overrun with vigorous youths, each one carrying the blood of someone beloved to Dutch. He wanted to cry out in joy when he thought about it, but he kindly restrained himself.

The mention of Sulukinak helped.

"Our shadow girl has spoken of children," he said to Kukutux. "I cannot tell a woman whether or not she is ready — but I worry. Perhaps you can speak to her? She could use your wisdom, I think. She sees the spirits in ways that I do not."