The Heartwood Slowly tears you apart

He was about to find a path of egress when the sounds of movement in the forest made him pause and pay attention. A stranger—swarthy and warm, and large—came from the shadows to cross his path. It was not someone familiar.

The young man greeted him. At what point did an adult become a young man to Kigipigak's eyes? He looked to be a fully grown, established person with the confidence and affect of a leader; but his son had looked much the same, and Kivaluk remained a boy in his father's eyes. At some point recently Kigipigak had transitioned from a young man himself in to the five-year-old he was now, and it was jarring to think about how quickly time would fly.

He regards the stranger a moment and then gives a nod back. I am Kigipigak, a trader of this area. He did not commend this Solharr on his size or apparent strength, as that was too obvious a thing. Better to withhold judgement until any hunt had happened, and by then Kigipigak could decide if this was friend or foe.

Hunting is always easier among comrades. Yes, I will hunt with you. He knew of a few places that the resident deer might be sighted, although it had been months since the northman had been this way.