They were in a narrow valley well known for the wandering caribou herds that habitually crossed it. Although Kanereyklak's grandson, Nareyklak, which meant "little bow" was not yet fourteen, his voice was strong, and his imitation of a wolf's howl was flawless. He bayed at the top of his lungs, frightening the herd that topped the hill.
Kanereyklak sprinted to the narrow end of the valley and hid, moving a few large stones in front of him for better concealment. Then he took his bow and arrows from his sealskin quiver and half-kneeled, with his left leg straight out and his right knee a little above the ground.
Kanereyklak's name meant, "frost bow," from the white bow he always carried. It was a composite bow, made of musk-ox horn and caribou antlers. The full length of the bow was reinforced with a backing of plaited sinew.
Kanereyklak knocked an arrow with a wooden shaft and a long, barbless bone point. He pulled the bowstring back with seasoned precision. As the caribou broke into a gallop, Kanereyklak fired one arrow and then smoothly knocked and fired another. The thunder of caribou hooves churned up snow as they rumbled past him.
Nareyklak arrived moments later, out of breath. "Grandfather!" he shouted, "You got two!"
Two caribou lay dead, both of their skulls pierced through the ear.
Kanereyklak was an exception amongst his tribe. His archery skills were unparalleled. Most of his people could only hunt caribou with bow and arrow at a range of sixty feet. He had felled two at over one hundred feet.
Nareyklak immediately prepared to butcher the caribou with his own short knife, but Kanereyklak stopped him with a gesture.
"The tutchone's inua has not yet been released." The young boy blinked at him and then nodded.
"We must always respect the tutchone's inua. If we do not, Tornarssuk will be displeased, and there will be no more tutchone to hunt."
Each animal had a spirit associated with it that lived independently of its physical host. For the caribou's spirit to be reincarnated into another caribou, it needed to be released. Only then would Tornarssuk allow it to reincarnate again into another caribou so that they might be hunted again.
Kanereyklak slit the first caribou's throat. He nodded to Nareyklak, who did the same with the other carcass. Then they set to work butchering the corpses.
They took great care in skinning the animals and the removal of the precious sinew, which could be used for more bowstrings. They separated the thigh- and shinbones, the fillets and tongues. Grandfather and grandson enjoyed the caribou eyes on the spot, gulped some of the raw meat, and began burying the carcasses under piles of stones for later consumption.
A shout turned them both around to view. It was one of Kanereyklak's sons.
"We found an adlait on the shore!" he shouted, "Come back to the village, we do not understand the stranger's tongue!"
Kanereyklak pursed his lips. "Finish here with your father," he said to Nareyklak as the boy's father ran down to join them.
Kanereyklak turned to go. As an afterthought, he turned back and picked up his sealskin quiver. Then he marched off in the direction of the village.
