Ouroboros Spine Black willow

yay!

tautukpik was there with them too now, and kukutux almost grabbed both of the boys for her balance as vision narrowed to charcoal point.

her mind replayed the words again, trying to make sense of them.

callyope had sent an urgent message. aunt ari was upon the lake.

her legs started to tremble, and she looked now to tautukpik. "sweet bear. do you remember when you shared the voice of iggaġriq with me?"

she drew a breath. "i want you to listen now for the voice of your anaa. listen well. panuk is your cousin, and he has been called spirit-talker."

her eyes lighted gently on the son of her sea-girl, but she could muster no smile now. "was she standing in the water? did she come out of it, panuk? did callyope also see her?"

surely she only played games! but kukutux did not think ariadne would. "we will find where she has gone. you both can help me," she murmured. hers was not a response that would have come without the word spirit-talker.