Ouroboros Spine unatattik ‡

She had always been ethereal, but she had always been anaa. He had never noticed the age around her face. Now he did, but with it spoke wisdom and understanding. He was a man now, but he would always be her boy, and his ears would always listen.

And he listened. She seemed to read between his lines, as she always did, hearing what was there but was not said.

Kigipigak tried to provide and do as a husband should do, he said slowly. Despite his misgivings, Kigipigak remained his brother-in-law, and to speak without acknowledging his attempts felt like stabbing him in the back. At least now he only swung the blade where he would see it coming, but Ariadne has smiled more since we've been here than I've seen her smile in many moons. We are sunshine people, he affirmed, Ariadne tried to be Tartok for Kigipigak, but he never tried to be sunshine for her.

He did not sing for Little Fox. That was twice now, and Stratos had seen them both. I believe he loves her, he said, but only in part. Otherwise he would have sung for Little Fox. Otherwise, he would have comforted her in this. I do not expect him to become sunshine man himself, but I expect him to learn sunshine ways that make Ariadne smile like she smiles now.