Ocean's Breath Plateau sivisutaaġniq — the long dark

A week felt too short, and too long, at the same time. If he could get through this night with the boys, maybe he could get through more—for now that was what Raiyuk would focus on.

Thank you. He answered, his voice dull. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened them again he looked to the lodge, and seemed a bit more despondent. I don't know all the ways of the seal hunters after all.

He remembered when death songs were sung for a woman in Moonsong; he wondered now if that was something a wife should do, or if it was right at all for a seal hunter's wake. Those were the ways of the sunshine people—but what about his own? But he wouldn't have to do anything so long as his father lived — and Raiyuk chose to believe that was the case. That he had gone. It was easier.

Sir, he looked back to the chieftain now, his expression tired. If news of this is to spread, I would like to be the one to tell it. Could you—could you watch the lodge and my brothers? I would go to Moonglow and speak there first. And immediately as he said this, tears sprung again to his eyes.