The Heartwood inuusik ✾

the slash was beginning to hurt quite a lot, but kukutux refused to be weak. she cut at the beast's meat and hide deftly, exposing the organs as her chest and forelegs began to stain a new ochre. this was man's work, and she was girlishly breathless to be trusted with such. 

a glowing glance to astaroth now. "i have never been so close to one," the duck exclaimed without a hint of her usual reserve. "now perhaps i am hunter too." a mark, the taste of boar-blood upon her teeth. was this how he felt often, felling prey each day for himself? kukutux licked blood from her paw, eyes falling shyly upon her companion now. "you are strong. brave. i will trade you a word for his spirit," the girl went on, remembering the first trader she had known. "this moon we are in is "nattian," kukutux murmured. "'moon of the baby seals.' my people always marked the months this way."