Ouroboros Spine kinuk ⊹

she smiled at him. iḷitqusiq. he wore it solemnly, a shining new being in their midst despite his injury. "i will tell the spirits your alive-name," the duck said softly. "they will come to you."

her heart's pace quickened. iḷitqusiq, she told herself, again and again, letting the man shed the first title for the newest one. "your name is already glowing," kukutux spoke, leaning forward to adjust the furs against which he rested. "iḷitqusiq," oomforting, the swallowed passion of a language she had always known. "you will heal faster now."