Ouroboros Spine Wading it out

kukutux had made offerings of asking to the spirits and gods, for the safe return of adrastus. it was all that could be done, save for dispatching searchers here and there, or asking for them to be sent. the summer heat was long and terrible. may adrastus have found himself in the high snows, far from this malaise.

aiolos filled with starglow and love; she saw it in all of him, in the manner that his eyes were upon her. acceptant, wanting. kukutux did not understand; she had been consumed only by her swelling sides and too-lengthy sickness. not at all a fitting wife. not at all a new young bride, preparing to move to the ulaq of her husband.

and yet all this did not seem to matter to aiolos, not when he responded in kind, and with moonglow in his mind. kukutux could ask for no more than this. "it is right because you have the trust of the moon. of taqqiq," the duck murmured in velvet tones. "i am moonwoman. sialuk is ulloriaq, star. and you will be siqiniq. sun. sun to moonglow, my sun man, to me."

a smile that recovered most of her good humour. "if adrastus returns, he will still be sivullik. he will choose hunters. he will make a path forward. if there are angry words between men, it is the sun who also listens. he and firsthunter make the choice of what to do."

"but if he does not come back," and here she drew a pained breath, full of anguish for poor lótë, "then you must be both sun and sivullik. there are no other hunters here to be both."

the duck thought of iḷitqusiq, a somber shadow coming to roost in stormcrow notes upon her face.