Ouroboros Spine Black willow

A young voice called for grandmother.

Tautukpik could not be distracted for much longer; he had eaten the treats spared in the ulaq, and he had guarded Akmaaksi, but when that voice crested through the air he was on his feet and running.

He knew it was not Nutuyikruk — he knew his sister's voice — but there was a trail of greenlight that snared his attention and drew him to this edge of the village. As he trundled out of cover and in to the path of the stranger, he stared down the boy.

There was a shimmering to his outline which faded as soon as Tautukpik focused his eyes.

Kukutux was there too, he realized.