Northstar Vale anugivaalua ❅

when the spring returned, the den that @Agana and kukutux had chosen for their homeplace would overlook a vast sprawling carpet of wildflowers. for now, however, it was a somber expanse of frozen grass and dying leaves. today kukutux dragged the end of a fallen pine bough over them, attempting to whisk them out of the way as she drew her burden to the denmouth.

her fine skins, her dried fish and meat — these things had been lost in the flood. and with hunting so scarce, the duck did not have as many furs as she would have liked. thus she had created a sleeping place from pine branches and the last of soft sedges, overlaid with what few skins she had managed to collect.

whatever meat with which agana returned, kukutux had taken to setting out a small portion, to dry in whatever sunlight was available. today was no exception; the duck had woken before dawn and set about clearing snow in a path, rabbitfur hugging her shoulders as always, and a low humming in her throat as she made plans to seek out herbs on the far side of the vale.