Ouroboros Spine I think of you when I think about forever

Even trying to reach out an olive branch, Maia’s first instinct was to refuse the gift. She didn’t like feeling in any way indebted, but bit that reaction back. Whether she liked it or not, this was Kivaluk’s family, which meant they were family too. If they wanted to give their grandchildren gifts then she needed to be okay with that.

Thank you. It took swallowing a lot of pride to say it. Maia knew it would continue to annoy her that she couldn’t think of anything to give in return. Stories… but she wasn’t ready for that. Just because there was a close relationship between her daughter and the mountain did not mean she wanted the same for herself. I’ll make sure Kivaluk and Chickadee know they are from you.

She could have made small talk, confided that her husband dealt with a lot of the same. Instead silence stretched between them while she, uncomfortably, decided how to bring this encounter to a close.