Moonspear agnaurak ✢

there were once four hunters who followed a bear up into the night sky. they chased after nanook the god. during the hunt, nanook fell into the sky. one hunter stopped following and returned home to fetch a sharp bone. that is why you see three hunters in the stars, still climbing after nanook.

a story for children to be sure, but kukutux found the memory of her mother's low voice to be comforting. she had told this story often to the duck and her sister. it was not one easily forgotten, still somehow comforting as the unseen, unknown spirits of the mountain boldly pressed forward.

and then there was suddenly a dark shape detaching itself from the shadows. she tensed, then mirrored the fall of jarilo's ears as his verdant eyes found her own briefly. kukutux dropped her gaze immediately, as much for his rank as his maleness; she descended at once to lower her head before him.

"you were looking for me?" despite herself, surprise danced in her words, but she must not forget herself. and so she was quiet, noting his fresh kill, the scent of the forest that clung to him. a hunter.

was he hungry? she did not know, but jarilo stood at her hearth, and it was important to offer him the hospitality of her home. kuktutux wet her lips, spring gaze rising shyly to the handsome planes of his face. "i will prepare the rabbit's pelt when you have finished, if you wish it."