Ouroboros Spine attukuanniyaila

The boy watched when his sisters were given skins and strips of flesh, seeing them play or learn, and despite his own curiosity he could not shake the feelings the abandonment of his mother had aroused within him. He would not help; he would only watch his sisters and be mindful of the adults, the way aapa had been. He was not here now to protect them and Tautukpik saw the responsibility fall upon his own shoulders—especially after aaka departed.

He had seen the greenlight drawing her away like a kite on a string; he had heard the wind humming a song, and knew in his heart it was what aaka needed to be doing. But he was a child and he did not want to see, he did not want to hear. Tautukpik turned his back on the lights to focus on his sisters.

The woman—aaka to his own—spoke of two thieves she was not skilled enough to catch. Tautukpik was respectful enough to listen but he would not offer himself to help; if she could not stop these things, what business did she have watching over Nutuyikruk of Akmaaksi?

So he turned away from her too.