Kildeer Rest only the beginning

His breath caught in his throat. She looked bothered by his answer, but it was quick and Kigipigak was already too distracted by the odd feeling welling up within himself, this awkwardness, to really take it in.

He did what came naturally and tried to shrug it all off.

I have fought many men before! Even my father. If I wanted to win, I would! He boasted, hoping that his revived good humor might distract from the lackluster answer he had given, or hide this boyish inadequacy that she had created inside him.

You would do better to fight for Lane. She said with a lash of her tail, proving to Kigipigak that something he said had missed the mark. He did not know how to fix this — if it even was something to fix.

She is Duskfire, I am Moonglow. As if this solved it all; Kigipigak could not fight for an issumatar except his own, and for now that meant Kukutux, who was more a mother figure to him anyway.

He grit his teeth and fell quiet, striding alongside the girl for a few minutes, thinking. Besides, Tartok does not rule here. My people's ways, they are meaningless. I can focus my energy on fighting the caribou instead! He smiled, but it was strained.