Ouroboros Spine suagutsik ⏧

Kukutux sounded approving of his tale. All that Kigipigak could do now was stand and bask in the memory of his home village - the frozen expanse of the north, with its black forests capped in white like teeth rising from a gumline; the high cliffs overlooking the sea where the boys would race, fight, and show off to one another; remembering immediately the texture of caribou hide against his own teeth while his sisters split the herd.

What happiness was spared for the tale began to diminish after that. Kukutux spoke of a place where the caribou roamed and as soon as she touched upon a name, Kigipigak's interest flared back to life, putting aside all other thought.

I know this place, he mentions, or, of it. From a woman I met named Lane. She came to hunt with me once before and I thought she would join us on the plateau — again, that souring expression. Kigipigak did not know how to hide his emotions very well and it was clear enough by his gutted expression that he was thinking of Sakhmet.

Quietly now, as if to massage a wound lest it be re-opened, he pushed on:
I would like to travel there. Perhaps they would be in favor of a competition, or... A celebration. Something to bring us closer. Alas, he sounded distracted. Less enthused despite his earlier motivation.