Moonsong Glacier pittaq ▱

to his question there was only a jut of the duck's chin at first, a gesture to the cold air above them. "listen."

kukutux was silent, and as winds laden with ice howled up the far side of the glacier, there seemed to be a man's voice caught in the cold lash, a mournful, spiteful sound. a shout that wavered and was swallowed.

"women's magick," moonmother murmured, thought she was faraway now in her thoughts of gray trader's final tortured moments. 

women's magick. ariadne had run away from it. 

would the others of moonsong? 

kukutux set her eyes on dutch. "i can teach those here to be sunshine people. our words. our ways. our magick. but you hear that the mountain is strong. it aches to be heard. the man who lies here, perhaps he tested my daughter and kigipigak. maybe he found in them some lack. that is why they no longer lead."