Ouroboros Spine foxfire

What she said tracked with what he knew already.

Nuak couldn't remember learning the name of the bear in Ursus, did not know if Averna's talk of spirits and powers had anything to do with the creatures, but when Kukutux mentions that only the pale one has a name, that it is the grandfather of them, he accepts it. It gives him a feeling of giddiness to think he had some knowledge that even the great bear-king lacked.

On they went, stopping only when Kukutux began to move towards Nuak with a twist. He did not see what she saw; her change in trajectory and quickening steps made him nervous and he swayed out of her path. The fur growing between his shoulders began to spike.

The woman moved on with her interest focused on something among the trees. Seeing as she wasn't targeting him after all, Nuak picked up his own pace and followed her, keeping some distance between them.