Northstar Vale Afterglow

nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.

from beneath lowered lashes that gathered their own tears like dew, kukutux turned to the place opposite agana and attempted to finish her meal. the flesh turned to ash within her mouth; her appetite died, and carefully she put away the remains. there was no need to be wasteful, even in her grief.

she could not help the last mournful look that crossed featherwhite features as her mintglow eyes traveled to agana for a long and haunting moment. nothing could be done. nothing would be done.

it is for the best, whispered the inner spirit from kukutux' breast. it is not our way.

slowly, wearily, the duck climbed onto the fur-covered sleeping platform and curled herself tightly upon it, enough so that her pelt would not touch agana's own when,

if,

the other woman at last came to bed.

and there, silently, kukutux let the stream of hot tears burn away her last iota of faith in the belief that she and the mink might have become something more than what they had always known.