Ouroboros Spine iḷiḷgaaġiit

By mid-morning, she had already completed a number of tasks. While tending to her children, she had retrieved the bison hide for Rodyn, gone fishing, and left her catches out to dry. Even though she was tired, there were still things left for her to accomplish.

While getting a minx fur ready for trade, she watched her children playing, which inspired her. To prevent burn out, she decided to take a break and join them. Slowly, she got up, shook out her fur, and called, Children! Who wants to go swimming? It was a beautiful day, with just the right temperature for a refreshing dip.

The boy Tautukpik had grown more stern in the week since his mother's spirit-walk, and while he remained interested in the sound of the wind or the sight of the sunlight through trees, he held a new stoicism as well which was remarkably similar to his absent father. One week was a very long time for someone who had no understanding of how time passed, and who had lived so little of their life. He had watched over his sisters and now could not shake the habit.

Aaka had come home but she had become busy quickly, and even though she brought the children with her, Tautukpik saw much. He watched as she came and went from the sleeping place, and obediently followed when she brought the trio elsewhere for enrichment, but he did not participate in much beyond his constant listening to the world, and the bright-eyed study of things around them.

When aaka stopped her work and called to them, Tautukpik tuned his attention to her — more because his peace had been disrupted rather than any interest in this swimming she spoke of; he did not know what that was, although he liked how enthusiastic she became as she urged them.