Ouroboros Spine Aliuk-aimagvik

It was Asivaq that led the family among the ulax to choose a place for the children to nest and to sleep, and after her own sleep Kigipigak saw her away; she went to visit her sister.

Kigipigak was left to watch over Atausiq, Malguk, and Sisamat. Of the three it was the boy that slept the soundest — dropping as soon as he touched the sleeping furs. For a time the father watched his children and sank inward to the well of shame he carried.

He had failed as a husband. He had failed as a father. Those of the Moon knew this, saw this plainly now. No doubt remained in his heart that he had done wrong by Asivaq by choosing her. Now home among people he could never truly understand nor hope to understand his own culture, Kigipigak knew also that he would fight against the impact of Kukutux for as long as he must.

He watches the trio sleep, vowing to keep the strength of Tartok strong through them. The grandmother would not take another of his children away with her spirit-talking. She should be pleased to have her daughter returned to her at all, and know better than to insert herself here.

The news Valiant delivered had disturbed him, though he could not quite say why. He'd decided, ultimately (and with much rambling about it to @Simbelmyne) that he was glad to hear that Ariadne was alive and well. But he didn't know what else to think about it.

He had not forgotten about Kigipigak, either — though this was not the name that Dutch had known him under. He'd appreciated the other man's stalwart presence right up until it was gone, leaving him to question where the impression of stalwartness had come from. But, ultimately, he didn't know what had driven the man from the Great Bear Wilderness any more than he knew what had driven Ariadne.

The panther announced himself as he came to the borders, hoping that @Ariadne might here and make herself available to him. He didn't know if he expected apology or explanation, but he found himself wanting to look upon her pretty face.

He sought her out, catching her scent and following it to the thicker scent of a family home. When he was still a ways off, he called out in a low woof, hoping to be met peacefully. He had come to see that Ariadne was not among them after all, but he thought he might rather speak with Kigipigak, anyway.