Ouroboros Spine salapkiksruk

He woke to the sight of his wife, reborn again. To be told by Asivaq that she was shedding her name, which to his people was akin to shedding a marriage, a family, a life —

He stormed from the ulaq and away from the sleeping places. Needing time to process this, to see that she was only trying to reintegrate among her people.

But at what cost? Could they not exist together? He could not understand why his ways were not welcome here. He had done no wrong and yet he was being punished.

When he returned again to the ulaq it was a few hours passed, and he was carrying a freshly killed grouse. He lay this down for the children to investigate and otherwise busied himself with them, as their father, rather than face his wife.

He did not understand either.

His mother was both these names, and they were only sounds. He hears a third name too, whispered by the wind - Tlatehiin.

Father left; he was a gathering storm, and in his wake Sisamat sought @Ariadne for comfort, confused by what he saw.

Aapa go? He asked, knowing the answer - he asked for a different reason but could not articulate. Would he go to Pinasut? Would he come back?

He listened, staring at the mouth of the ulaq until Kigipigak returned; but he listened for that whispered name, and found there was none offered for his father.

anânsiak blossomed upon the footpath which led to the home of ariadne.

@Ariadne. her daughter had come to her in the night, radiant and joyous. in hushed murmurs they had spoken of the shed name, and at last kukutux told ariadne the way of spirit names, and whispered to her: tlatehiin. shining water.

it was long overdue.

now, heedless of the late morning, kukutux called out cheerfully to those in the ulaq, emboldened by her own child's return to the sunshine ways; "the anaa of your anaa has come to share words with you!"

Kigipigak had not taken the news well. He'd promptly stormed out of the den, leaving his family behind. While the air was still ripe with strife, Ariadne tended to the children and kept calm for their sake. While she was hurt—she couldn't get over how selfish her husband was being! especially after everything she'd sacrificed for him! after shedding her beliefs for him! aya!—she tried not to focus on their conversation for too long, as it only upset her.

He returned around the same time that Kukutux had, and seeing her mother made her worries disappear. She rushed over, greeting her with an embrace. Children, come! she encouraged, ignoring her husband for now. Your anaa's anaa is waiting!

She turned to her mother then, her eyes bright. I think that it is time to give these children real names, she said, inspired by her own personal development.

Hearing the voice of Kukutux at the door only served to flare his emotions. He swallowed them well enough, and gave a defeated sigh as Asivaq tried to ferry the children to the door. He was adamant that they learn of their own culture and be kept safe from the influence of Kukutux, a fear he had not explained in depth to his wife (for how could he? When she was so glad to be home with her again).

Asivaq did not realize her blunder in mentioning the rite of naming; it wasn't that Kukutux could not be present, only that Kigipigak had grown possessive of his own culture and demonized enough because of it, he did not wish to share it with the woman there.

I must fetch some more things before we can start, he mentions, and seeks a bone lodged in the back of the ulaq, and a bolt of fur from another spot, and a piece of the bird he had brought for the children - a feather with a splattering of faint blood staining it.

As he emerged behind his family he gave Kukutux a passing look, and stepped away to orient these items on the earth in a line.

Atausiq, come. Kigipigak waited for the child to move, urging them with a look. What would they choose of the items? This would have little true bearing on the naming, but he had told Kukutux the day before it was a ritual and so he made it look the part.

His mother didn't have an answer for him, but father was returned to them and Sisamat let his worry slide away.

They were ushered out of the ulaq and in to the waiting company of the loud woman who had come, and who mother appeared happy to see. Their father was busy in their sleeping place for a bit, and when he presented them with these items in a line Sisamat looked to them, to father, to the women, and then to Atausiq as they moved.

Their choice was to grab the bone, and not just that, but to seek the feather and sit almost atop it, as if to claim both.

Sisamat hummed, and sought @Malguk for comfort as that was such a common thing for him to do. He nosed at her as if to urge her forward next, while he watched and remained skeptical.