[some days they spoke seal. others, walrus. on still more, chakliux taught kukik to converse in the pidgin between, and had also begun to teach him that one shared between seal and caribou. bits of lanzadoii and sharadoii mingled with the flowing consonants of seal. and into multiple sentences, he appended words and phrases of walrus. they were making their own trader's tongue, the seal hunter said, explaining that the caribou hunters often lived in valley fed by glacier run-off or monstrous lakes which made miles of green land through which caribou roamed. but — wistful though he was to leave behind the sea, chakliux told himself that kukik needed the company of more. he was a boy, and boys must journey to learn that which was beyond themselves. gull-cry sparked in the ears of both saltwolves. the seal hunter nodded to the walrus boy and rose. kukik would lead them if he wished to see, and if not they would continue upon this expedition of men. "i want to begin trade. it is time," chakliux uttered, for he had grown restless on the grey beach and wished to bring back things unknown. "so. we will hunt for things which we may bring." trade was the lifeblood of many societies. a man who arrived with good nature and better offerings was a man invited back. as chakliux considered kukik the son of his lodge, it was time that he learned how to comport himself among those who were not seal.]

some days they spoke seal. others, walrus. on still more, chakliux taught kukik to converse in the pidgin between, and had also begun to teach him that one shared between seal and caribou. bits of lanzadoii and sharadoii mingled with the flowing consonants of seal.
and into multiple sentences, he appended words and phrases of walrus. they were making their own trader's tongue, the seal hunter said, explaining that the caribou hunters often lived in valley fed by glacier run-off or monstrous lakes which made miles of green land through which caribou roamed.
but — wistful though he was to leave behind the sea, chakliux told himself that kukik needed the company of more. he was a boy, and boys must journey to learn that which was beyond themselves.
gull-cry sparked in the ears of both saltwolves. the seal hunter nodded to the walrus boy and rose. kukik would lead them if he wished to see, and if not they would continue upon this expedition of men.
"i want to begin trade. it is time," chakliux uttered, for he had grown restless on the grey beach and wished to bring back things unknown. "so. we will hunt for things which we may bring."
trade was the lifeblood of many societies. a man who arrived with good nature and better offerings was a man invited back. as chakliux considered kukik the son of his lodge, it was time that he learned how to comport himself among those who were not seal.