Grouse Thicket i was supposed to be sent away

Her eyes drifted to Asivaq’s mate—Njord’s aokatti—for the first time as she spoke, wondering if she should regret her knee-jerk reaction. But just looking at the three children quelled any reservations, at least until Kigipigak spoke. He immediately dismissed the offer without even a moment’s consideration.

Meerkat couldn’t help it, given the history here: she felt snubbed. When Njord doubled down on her offer, she almost wished he wouldn’t. It seemed like a waste of breath. Her heart went out to the three innocent children being dragged across the wilderness. It simultaneously hardened against their parents, who seemed hellbent on making terrible decisions.

She felt a little twinge when she noticed Asivaq’s tears, though Meerkat couldn’t believe the half-witted excuses she was hearing. A flood of uncharacteristically ugly thoughts paraded through her mind, though she had the decency not to voice them—at least, most of them.

You would refuse our hospitality yet again and put your remaining children at risk just to avoid the consequences of your own bad decisions? Meerkat said, utterly incredulous. I’m sorry, I can’t, she added for her husband’s benefit, shaking her head and trying not to look at those poor youngsters as she pointedly walked away.