Deepwood Weald [m] red flax

she watched and she listened.

chakliux knew the words of the traveler man, her uncle. the things cen spoke of did not surprise sulukinak so much because the idea had already been introduced to her; but it was dutch who claimed her, at least in part, and sulukinak was reminded of what she had been told of caribou men and the sharing of women.

sulukinak also thought of the shaman woman and the threat that dutch had made - to take her there, for a reason she still did not understand.

simbelmyne spoke in her quiet way. welcome among them, as if she had come late to the party? as if sulukinak needed the approval of this woman she barely knew.

neither dutch nor his woman, nor even chakliux (who very well may have claimed them both as part of their throuple) did not know anything about her. they projected their own cultures upon her and did not reciprocate - dutch, mortified by the harvest. dutch, visiting the caribou lodge more and more.

finally sulukinak emerged, and as she moved to meet those gathered her eyes flashed upon her man, cen.