Ouroboros Spine Hunter, Hunter

when kukutux spoke again it was to answer his first question. "it is too weak to be dried. it does not have weight. eat the good fat with berries. it is a treat." this part of the animal was meant to be eaten fresh.

moonwoman was pleased that he meant to give back.

"traders were given food and a sleeping-place. it is the way to show a good heart." she peeled another long strip. "often a woman would come to spend the night with the trader. sometimes, if he visited often, she would welcome him each time in the same way. and in time she would find herself with new children for her village."

"traders are sacred. they carry many words and stories and things from one place in the long world to another. the women who lie with traders choose them for this reason. it is an honor as well as being a pleasure."

in the place of her birth, kukutux would not be so bold as to teach a hunter his place. but there were no men of her first village here. she must then be moonwoman to them all. "it is for this reason that it is not often a man chooses to be both husband and trader. often a man who has traveled much will return to his village and take a wife. he will say that he is ready to be content."