Ouroboros Spine uvlakuun ⋳

why did agana not sit closer? kukutux understood that in many ways they had become strangers to one another, and did not know from where the pained thought had come.

offering a smile to agana's mention of more grandchildren, her soft pale ears cupped to listen. a son had been born, and her grin broadened, only to fade softly when her companion spoke of loss.

then did the duck move in the space between them, reaching out to take agana's paw between both her own if the mink allowed. a search which turned fruitless; a life rendered empty.

"there is nothing to forgive," kukutux murmured, searching into the anguish of the eyes she had seen churned to misery, a tall forest in a harsh gale. to busy her own scrambling mind, she plucked deerskins for them both, smoothing down the short hairs patterned with summerbrown.

"i am sorry i went away so quickly. andraste took me to moonspear as i had wanted. she did not tell to me that i was payment for her debts. they said she must go," kukutux murmured, glancing away from agana now to gaze upon the pelts which lay against her arm, their arms. "they took me to the mountain and were kind. but i did not ask to see courtfall again."

her eyes were soft, compelled once more by the wanting familiarity of agana's face. "i should have come back." so devoted had she been to finding a husband and the assimilation of moonspear; to the new ulaq and to the kind blackfox who had made her ostrega and set his name inside her as well.

to the star. moonglow.

but she should not have forgotten. "aiolos is here. he is sun man of all the moon villages. father. courtfall gave to us all a first life."