Ouroboros Spine surprise

Sialuk knew she could not win against him, so she remained aloof. She wanted to tell him that she did not need his help. That she disliked him. That she wished for him to go. But she could not enforce it. Her expression showed none of this, remaining a blank slate. She would have to keep her true self hidden from him. It was how it needed to be until they found somebody who could chase him out. Sialuk could not do it on her own, and he knew where the ulaq was. Anaa could not flee with her for some time, and Sialuk could not leave her mother here with him anywhere nearby. It was a bitter truth.

She began to chew at a front shoulder, slowly working her way to the joint where it connected with the rest of the body. In time, she could disconnect it and begin to haul it back to the snow ulaq. She did not know or care what he would to bring back, but this would be for anaa. Again, Sialuk was grateful that she had gotten to the most nourishing meat first.