Permafrost Hollows tanimaguq-liak ↦

She continued to evade him. Words spilled from Nyra with a defaming quality he found unsatisfactory, beyond being untrue; she was injured yes but that did not limit her as much as she thought. If she could not come up with a suitable answer for Kigipigak to take back to Kukutux, he would have to take control of the situation himself — but that would mean Nyra would become his charge rather than a member of the village. They lived in different circles. It was not right.

Kigipigak sighed and his frown remained etched upon his face.

Pick something. Focus on it. It was not very good advice, and did not take in to account her skills or her injuries. He was frustrated with how self-deprecating she was being. Where was the strong woman who had sparred with him? Where was the pride, the power? She was losing her worth before his eyes.

Kukutux could use someone around the women's camp to help tend to the hides. As her skills and supplies have been used upon you, perhaps you should devote yourself to serving her. Learn from her. Work hard, so that you may join the hunters again.

At this point he was ready to turn her away from Moonglow entirely; but Kigipigak did not have that power, and this was not Unnuakvik, where weakness was punishable by brutalization and death. Had it been, he would not be talking now - he'd be using his teeth.