Bramblepoint aŋayukłiq

Kigipigak had not expected the change to occur so quickly within Ariadne, to go from his devoted wife to the woman who merely carried his latest brood, but that is what had transpired. He knew now he could not stay within the village—but he also would not abandon his children to the Sunshine People, and while he was welcome among the trio right now, any wrong move might cause that kindness to be revoked. While he reeled from his broken heart he also sought a place for himself—any place that was far enough from the will of Kukutux to allow him his grief and his shame, but close enough that he could still get to-and-from Moonglow.

His children would know their father. They would learn their history; the stories of his mother Sedna, of her mother Saghani, of Siku the First—they would be taught to fight and to hunt as best he could provide, and as they grew he would make sure they knew their options. They need not follow all the ways of their mother's people. There was a place for them to live the life they chose, beneath the shining lights where they could make a name for themselves, and find their own strengths in the real world.

But for now, Kigipigak was unmoored and he was hurting. He took himself from Moonglow down among the hills, the fields, the forests—and as he neared the Bramblewood he wondered if he might come across Amalia again; but he also thought of his son @Kivaluk, and as he thought of his first-born Kigipigak could not help himself—he raised his chin and gave a call to let the man know, I am here, can we talk?

It was only after the sound of his voice faded upon the wind that Kigipigak felt a sudden drop and twist in his stomach, as an intimate fear gripped at him so suddenly and so visciously; what if he did not come? What would he say if he did?