Ouroboros Spine vii. and scrub between the cracks.

but her sister did not turn with her.

kukutux found herself shaking again as she tried not to look toward the shadow which bore the face of her first son.

but her heart was breaking within her chest.

"let him be cleansed. for nine days," she called to the tupilak as it departed, her voice steadying. "hear my words. if my son has indeed come back through the heart of sedna, i will know it."

moonwoman spoke in their words, the ones he must know if it was truly him.

she looked back to lótë. "you found one another in the wild places. it must be that you were meant to come here. his sister sialuk," and now she gestured to her pale daughter, "she woke the mountain of his birth to life again. now a spirit walks and holds the name of my son."

her voice broke, but her eyes were pleading, asking that lótë not force the loss between them again. when the time came, she would seek the dark with all her power and knowledge and know if the man was indeed flesh. but first, she must soothe her sister, give her rest.