The Torngat Trilogy Vol. I: Melting Snow

“Keelut! No! Leave her alone!” She said harshly. Keelut backed off with a whine. Melting Snow lifted the cobbles one by one and placed them on Uvlugiaq’s body. When the last cobble was placed she wearily climbed back on the sled. Snow began to fall again. This time far more furiously than it had in the last few weeks. The sky seemed to close in all around her blocking the sun that looked as weak as she felt. She shook the traces of the komatik and the dogs headed back down the hill. If she hurried she might get back to the community hall before the storm struck in earnest. She knew it would be close. Once the winter storm started she and the dogs would need shelter almost immediately. As she pulled into the village it was already difficult to see. She opened the two doors to the hall and guided the dogs, sled and all into the building. She unhitched them and tossed the remains of the dried seal meat onto the floor for the dogs to eat. Then, she went to the far end of the hall near the tile stove and curled up into a ball. The five dogs cuddled around her as the storm began to rage outside. Everyone was dead. There was no one left. She was all alone and eight months of the harsh arctic winter had just begun.