Northstar Vale Afterglow

she swallowed, coughed a bit in surprise as agana asked after coming with her. kukutux had meant to be alone, to mourn her dead in solitude for a day of fasting and silence.

she was not certain how she might convey this to her companion, but was summarily distracted by the intensity of the sungilded gaze that sought her own.

the duck could not find proper words; her eyes drew away, then climbed back to those of her denmate. something unspoken hovering between them, something she had begun to kill, to puncture with bone knives, to deflate.

she needed a husband, one as gentle and traditional as the seal-killer had been. then perhaps these feelings might subside; with children to suckle and a man to please, kukutux, surely, could be content with her purpose.

she bit her lip.

"why have you come?" she must know, she must, she must.