Ouroboros Spine not today

her mouth ran dry.

she patted callyope's paw. a good daughter. dutiful. willing to carry the great burden of such an expansive lineage.

"samani was born twins. her sister kausiut lives."

her heart raced, raced, young ducks hiding in a soft drift.

"you must know that among my people, twins were an omen of evil. we lay one out for sedna," and she closed her eyes to think of that girlhood memory, turning her back on those thin cries in the cold air.

"but i knew i could not. i named kausiut quamaniq, light over sun and water. i named samani unnujaktuk, traveler who walks out onto the sea ice. and i named them both; i gave them the twin-name nakitâgutik, sealskin which binds tightly together."

a breath; she shivered at the power hanging in the air.

"panuk must know all three names, now. they are his to hold. he will be the first man of our line to know this secret." she stared at callyope. "make sure he gives these names to his first daughter, ice-flying woman."

far-seeing. far-knowing.