[tugix does not wince. muradoii children have no names when they are born. she was not muradoii. but now she is. he can scarcely remember staggering with her into the safety of sulukinak's company. he can scarcely remember anything at all his bloodscent fills the space. it smears over the milky salt of the baby snow. it collects in the darkhunter's fragrance. they are bonded by this, the three of them. muscles unknit. tugix sags back against the ground, one eye watching sulukinak stare at the child. in this moment, her angular face holds the single-minded intent of a bone priestess. aorta-man cannot spare snow child from sacrifice if it was intended. he has no strength. he is at mercy. muradoii lost cubs in hard winters. a young life was not named until they drew blood or proved themselves in some other way. he watches them in grim, interested silence, an observer of an emotion he cannot feel.]

tugix does not wince.

muradoii children have no names when they are born.

she was not muradoii. but now she is. he can scarcely remember staggering with her into the safety of sulukinak's company. he can scarcely remember anything at all

his bloodscent fills the space. it smears over the milky salt of the baby snow. it collects in the darkhunter's fragrance. they are bonded by this, the three of them.

muscles unknit. tugix sags back against the ground, one eye watching sulukinak stare at the child. in this moment, her angular face holds the single-minded intent of a bone priestess.

aorta-man cannot spare snow child from sacrifice if it was intended. he has no strength. he is at mercy.

muradoii lost cubs in hard winters. a young life was not named until they drew blood or proved themselves in some other way.

he watches them in grim, interested silence, an observer of an emotion he cannot feel.