[kuy'aa was with elk charm, and so chakliux had turned his attentions back to the salt and the journey ahead. it was time that the seal hunters departed, though these hills had been pleasant in their offerings. he was now possessed of beaver pelts, meadowlark feathers, rabbitskins, meat from freshwater fish, and even a tiny bit of trout roe. these things would be quite valuable to those who lived beside the sea. he had not seen lujing for a time, and wondered if she had gone back to her people. he regretted this if so, but they all must choose where they would be. now his eyes fell to kukik. taller, broader, and more silent, now he hunted the seawater in a sort of vigil. chakliux had watched him grow quiet, and thought it must be many things, the least of which must be the loss of his walrus kin. on broad paws he approached, watching as urchins bristled in the cold salt. we will be leaving soon, spoke the hunter in the pidgin he had created with kukik. his lodge-son was near a man. it was this age, he tried to remember, that he had taken raiyuk to the sea. but they were seal, and he would not press this one beneath the waves. and we will be trading again. is there anything you want to find before we leave the sharadoii?]

kuy'aa was with elk charm, and so chakliux had turned his attentions back to the salt and the journey ahead. it was time that the seal hunters departed, though these hills had been pleasant in their offerings. he was now possessed of beaver pelts, meadowlark feathers, rabbitskins, meat from freshwater fish, and even a tiny bit of trout roe. these things would be quite valuable to those who lived beside the sea.
he had not seen lujing for a time, and wondered if she had gone back to her people. he regretted this if so, but they all must choose where they would be.
now his eyes fell to kukik. taller, broader, and more silent, now he hunted the seawater in a sort of vigil. chakliux had watched him grow quiet, and thought it must be many things, the least of which must be the loss of his walrus kin.
on broad paws he approached, watching as urchins bristled in the cold salt. we will be leaving soon, spoke the hunter in the pidgin he had created with kukik. his lodge-son was near a man. it was this age, he tried to remember, that he had taken raiyuk to the sea. but they were seal, and he would not press this one beneath the waves. and we will be trading again. is there anything you want to find before we leave the sharadoii?