Ouroboros Spine kinaalda

ajei was a woman now, and it was not lost on kukutux how arrluk watched the bruised girl return in quiet triumph from the kinaalda ordained by her mother.

the young woman had flown fast and fiercely in the ways of the star hunter's people. the words had come more easily to kukutux each day that she had sung them aloud.

otter. rabbit. squirrel. weasel. frog. fish. bird. crayfish.

she was wounded.

she would scar.

"welcome home, daughter of shikoba, ajei of moonglow and star hunter blood."

"welcome home, ajei, woman of moon and of star, of sand, of sage."

"the spirits see you have run to take your place beneath their light."

tears of pride flowed as moonmother sang.