Larksong Grotto nagrulik-atuun

The stranger's voice rang oddly clear: Oh, get fucked!

Why couldn't this creature realize how foolish it was being? It was an easy decision to Kigipigak. They were choosing to brave the endlessly falling snow, deeper in places than they were tall, rather than escaping the worst of it in the cavern. At any point more branches could come down — or entire trees! As nimble as they were, Kigipigak doubted they could survive for long in such conditions.

He scrambled, kicked, and finally the branch beneath him gave way to a cloud of snow. Pine needles scattered in the wind. As the chaos of that moment settled Kigipigak looked around for signs of the stranger who, alas, he could not see. Any path they had left behind was a vague silver shadow against the white of the ground—and the snow fell rapidly to cover their escape route.

Kigipigak was left with a decision of his own: return to the noxious cavern or take his chances in the snow. The effort of breaking apart the branch and escaping those confines had warmed him; adding to that an astounding arrogance about winter, and Kigipigak made up his mind.

He turned opposite to the stranger's path (unknowingly) and began to hike across a burm of snow.