Ouroboros Spine in a battle, that's all you get

there was nothing to give him. the small bit of meat that she and sialuk had managed to save must belong to them completely, for winter was long and they were alone.

the duck sat outside the ulaq. every so often she looked up from her quick grooming to search the distance for her pale daughter's elegant stride and the confident way that wintersbane walked.

at last they came, and somehow against the backdrop of snow stretching long, wintersbane was far larger than she remembered. "i greet you," she said when they had both drawn near, motioning for sialuk to sit alongside her and for their guest to also be seated.

healer's-gaze flicked over his tall frame, noting the limp that had carried him here. "we both escaped with life but not without wounds," she commented. kukutux had no medicines to give wintersbane; it pained her not to offer. "where will you go now?"