@Tomkin perhaps before they were forced out by Morningside?
As Taqiqq fell from the sky, escaping her brother's reach once more, her stsa' wandered from the collection of others. The glacier loomed closer with every passing day but familiarizing herself with the routine of the Ateneq family meant she had also familiarized herself with its members. It was obvious to her now that nanuk had taken her in merely because they spoke the same language - if his main reason had not been her looks at least. She'd found kindness in the mothers Shivali and Tahani but what else was she to their family if not a ghost that trailed after them from place to place? Unsure of her place, the tundrian slipped away into the dawn with little notice.
She moved stiffly, lacking her usual lupine grace in the face of the many injuries she'd sustained chasing away that intruder. Her leg throbbed with particular acuteness but the waif gritted her teeth and moved on willingly into the embrace of the dark forest. Tapeesa finally halted when she came across a wooded hill overlooking a lush valley bellow.
As Siqiqniq rose, lightening the sky and casting a fiery golden hue to the underside of the few clouds present, he cast light on the flower-dotted meadow. Dew clung to the grass, dampening her pallid coat as she sat, watching a handful of deer graze on the greenery. Tupilaq had no way of catching one by herself but perhaps she'd bring some of the others back here to try their luck at a filling meal for once.
The big male stretched, his muscles rippling under his scruffy looking coat. It had been shedding unevenly, and the remaining thick fur still clung to him. Pausing bowed, he tensed then relaxed, his long claws raking the earth as he drew himself to his full stature. He shook, droplets of dew releasing from his coat. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, and he yawned, a relaxed noise from deep in his throat, his body moving forward. It had been a long journey. Not physically, although it had been warmer than he was used to. The pups. Shaking his head slightly, he started loping, trying to wipe the nightmares he had started to have from his mind.
Slipping into the thick underbrush and trees, he weaved in and out, beginning to sharpen his eyes. He felt the blood started to warm, and leaping over some foliage easily, he skidded on the other side, the brush of a tree scraping his shoulder. He grinned, fully alert now. Swiveling his large ears forward, he started forward at an easy pace, scanning the forest, yet not concerned about any danger at the moment.
His nose caught a familiar scent, and he slowed, curiousity now flowing through him. He recognized it from somewhere. It clicked as she came into view, and he stopped, not wanting to startle her. She was different from them. Slender, quiet. She was a slight mystery to him, and he took a couple of steps forward, a thoughtful look now replacing the smile. Strange, but she had kept up and had helped with the pups. No fussing, straightforward and quiet. So different from Tapeesa. Shaking his head, a few more steps, and he called out to her, his stance friendly, his voice deep. Hello. It's beautiful, isn't it?
She was not privy to his inner thoughts - if she might have been she might have been embarrassed as he approached - nor his presence. Her attention was fully caught by the sight of the deer grazing below; despite the hunger they invoked there was a graceful beauty to them.
When the sound of footsteps approached and a male called out, she turned with wary silver eyes as she didn't recognize the voice. Some of the tension fled her wounded form as she recognized Tomkin, nanuk's brother. He was a bear of a creature himself - if not quite as massive as his brother yet - with ink smeared down his spine.
Tapeesa dipped her head to him, offering a soft, "Hello." She'd not interacted with many of Siarut's siblings, and definitely not his brother. Her voice seemed reluctant to be heard but she found her silent tendencies could not remain as she travelled with the other northerners.
"It is," she murmured, glancing down to the deer once more before her gaze was drawn upwards to the ice bear before her. "You are Tomkin, yes? I'm Uki."
He dipped his head moments after hers, yet made no more steps towards her. The scars on her body told a story he'd rather not know, the thought of someone forcing someone else into submission for the joy of it made his blood hot. He had to admire her. She seemed not to have turned cynical despite what she had been through, which he could only imagine. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, but he clearly her voice, which he had never heard before. He tilted his head a bit, studying her momentarily as she spoke and grinned lopsidedly, nodding once before speaking, trying to keep his voice soft, which wasn't the easiest for him. Yes, Tomkin it is. It's good to finally exchange words with you.
He wasn't much for idle chit chat and didn't have much else to talk about, yet even he knew not to ask about the scars. Sitting down, he hoped it would make him a little less intimidating, if she found him uncomfortable at all. He looked out over the valley for a few seconds, letting silence linger and settle around them. Glancing back at her, he smiled slightly when his eyes landed on hers. His was guarded and direct, yet genuine before his gaze went back over the countryside. I want to thank you for helping my sister. You've been good for her. I haven't been very social, but I don't miss a lot. You've caused no trouble and have been a great help. I thank you.
He let the words fall where they may, being quiet and still in the early morning. Thanking someone wasn't his strong point, but she had deserved a word of praise, and he wasn't going to begrudge anyone something that they had earned. A slight breeze blew through his patchy fur, and he lifted his snout, sniffing the air. He loved the feeling of calm and freedom, and the smell was on the cool breeze, making him relax. Yet it aroused his yearning to roam, although he had curbed it on this journey with his siblings. It was growing stronger, but he had a duty to his family. Looking at the female, he cocked his head and gave her a small smile, wondering what was going on in her head.
He observed her in a way that was new to her. There was no pity to be found in his gaze, as she had found in Siarut, and the tundrian finds she doesn't miss it. Nor does he ask, as so many have been wont to do, about the scars lining her face and throat. Her smile becomes a little less forced as he takes a seat beside her, moving with the same predatory gait a bear might, her pale gaze again drawn to the herd grazing serenely below.
His thanks draw confusion in the form of a furrowed brow. "Tahani?" she asked hesitantly once she found his green eyes again, unsure of who he spoke of. She'd spoken to each of the sisters and had offered aid to Shivali and Tahani on numerous occasions, she could not be sure what exactly he was thanking her for.
The rest she nodded to, somewhat shy in the face of praise. It's the first time she had received thanks from, well, any of their members - at least what the spearwife can recall. "Thank you," she murmured with genuine gratitude, for amongst his family who seemed to either tolerate her presence, pity her, or blatantly not want her around - his words were more appreciated than he knew.
Shiv, but I thank you for helping both.
He sat in silence until she spoke, and it made him glance over at her, studying her for a moment. Definitely different, but it was a good different. The appreciation was unexpected and a little surprising to him, but it made the corners of his mouth turn up. No one had thanked him for thanking them. Realizing he had been watching her this entire time his thoughts had ran around in his head, he swiveled his head away from her, his expression thoughtful now. He stood, took a few steps away from her and shook his coat, letting it fluff out then settle slowly. Stretching slowly, he yawned, still sleepy. He had never been a morning person, the midafternoon and night the time of day he had the most energy. The trees moved in the wind, and he looked back into the woods, and they seemed to call to him to play. His tail wagged slightly, but he turned around to look at Uki. Smiling at her, his eyes sparkled. Impulsively, he opened his mouth to ask her to come with him, maybe going hunting with him. He paused a moment and almost decided against it, yet it wouldn't hurt to ask. Would you like to go hunting with me? For the pack and pups, of course.
Stilling his tail, he was quiet as he waited for her answer, smiling.
She remembers again the badger she'd caught for Shivali, the hollow hunger that had gnawed her bones as she'd watch the mother drag it away. And later that arrogant male - she hadn't understood a word he said in that harsh English tongue but she had understood the scorn that laced his words. He'd thought little of the foreign girl and her foreign words, until her fangs had revealed their meaning.
For a moment, the wounds littering her from the encounter feel like badges of honor.
"Oh," she responded. She didn't think Shivali had noticed. The tundrian had no other words, startled as she was to be receiving gratitude at all.
His stare went unnoticed - mostly due to her habit of keeping her eyes on the ground in the presence of others - but when his head turned sharply her moonlight eyes were drawn to Tomkin. The berserker watched him silently, a curious expression on her, for once, open face. She seemed to have no qualms about staring as he did, perhaps from a lack of social development.
By the time he had yawned and turned to the trees, she had glanced away. Her gaze found his when the question came, and a small smile graced her features.
"Yes," she merely stated, the soft word warm with excitement. Her tail swayed gently as she stood, an involuntary banner of her eagerness, ready to follow after him.
Her response seemed to please him, if the way he smiled and his eyes shone was any indication. Tapeesa smiled back, hesitant but genuine. As Tomkin turned, she moved to his side on soft steps - breaking into a lope as she followed behind.
Siqiqniq was rising, the southern air growing heavy and thick until it seemed it would smother her. Angakkuq glanced to the clear sky, sending a prayer to her god that they might succeed in their hunt. Dappled patches of sunlight spilled between the trees, turning her coat silver whenever she passed through them. Somewhere, a dove called a morning tune and it echoed back from the center of the forest.
Tupilaq lost herself in the rhythm - the easy thud, thud of her paws striking the ground, the pleasant burning in her muscles, the simplicity of focusing on filling her lungs as she ran. The cathartic run distracted her so that she might have missed his halt, had she not been so aware of Tomkin ahead of her.
She slowed, padding after him on silent steps as she tipped her muzzle back - sniffing the air for deer. The northerner huddled in the grass half a step behind him, hidden from sight but a flicker of deer moving past could be seen through the grass occasionally.
The girl's legs trembled slightly - anticipating the hunt to come. Her ragged ears perked up, scarred countenance turning towards Tomkin as he spoke.
"The buck," she answered after a moment's thought. The buck would feed them and Tomkin said he thought they'd be able to take him down. The mother would live to raise her fawn - provided no other predator saw an end to them - and possibly they'd both make more fawns. It seemed an easy choice.
"How do we do this?" She glanced up to meet his spring gaze, offering a crooked smile on split lips. He was the one in front, it was up to him to give her instructions on what he needed her to do - it was obvious that the tundrian would do whatever she was asked to.
Sorry for the different text. I've been having trouble with it, so I'm trying something different.
At her question, his eyes sparkled, and his maw offered her crooked smile a wide grin momentarily. Turning back to the deer with all the movements of a predator, he thought the best way to bring one down. If it was just him, he'd do it a bit differently. But acutely aware of the woman beside him, his eyes took the deer in once more, his ear flicking back to catch any words she might say. The wind was at their backs, making it easier for them to do unnoticeable to their prey.
Gesturing with his head towards the trees near the buck, he spoke low, yet an eagerness edged his voice. He loved hunting. It was one of the things that he enjoyed most. Besides sleeping, taking risks and wandering.
Sneak around through the trees and herd him this way. I can bring him down when he gets close enough. I think it'll be an easy kill.
'Unless something goes wrong', his common sense warned him, but he shook his head inwardly. It was a simple, straightforward plan. It would be fine.
Giving her a half smile, adrenaline started running through him, the thought of a kill putting a feeling of freedom in him. His eyes turned to the deer again, his voice with a predatory edge to it, thinking outloud.
The wind is good for us. They can't smell us...yet. If you could sneak over there and it not smell you until you're right on it, you could easily herd him this way. Should be no problem.
Glancing at her, his tail swished slowly a couple of times, the grin growing.
Don't worry about him escaping. We'll feed the pack today, no problem. What do you think?
He had almost not asked her, not used to having to ask, but ordering her to do something rubbed him the wrong way. There was something about her he couldn't put his paw on it.
Found a font I like with him. XD
The certainty in her voice made his grin almost crack his maw wide open, and the way she disappeared into the grass so quietly made him admire her a bit. She was perfect for this job, and he wondered if she would agree to hunt with him again sometime. Looking away from the way she had went, his body lowered even further into the grass, his muscles rippling, tensing for the moment she pushed the young buck this way. His eyes sharpened as he watched the herd, looking for any signs of fear or awareness. They moved around, and the buck seemed nervous, snorting. Anticipation of his movements made the brute of a wolf want to charge now, taking a risk. Yet he stayed in the grass as the breeze blew it, making an unconscious decision to trust the female.
As the buck twitched his ear and went back to grazing, a flash of scarred white flashed in front of him, making the male freeze momentarily, then tossed his antlers at the small wolf. Green eyes glinted, ready to run in at the first sign of trouble. Yet her experience showed as she raised her lips at him, a snarl bursting from her. Mumbling something to himself, the ink spilled wolf grinned and watched in appreciation. He raised his stomach off the ground, his adrenaline strong enough that he could already taste the blood of this deer. 'Wait...wait...' He didn't move as it bounded through the grass, panic written on its face. Not wanting to lose this meal, his claws dug into the soft earth, resisting the urge to run forward. His breath came faster as the buck got closer. Timing was everything, and it was something he was good at.
As the back hooves bounded off the ground, making a hollow noise, his back paws shot him off the ground, a snarling bark erupting out of his chest, leaping for its throat in mid air. Feeling the pulse of its heart, his fangs bit down hard, and his body weight led them crashing down to the earth, flailing hooves and paws together. A pained sound came from the creature, struggling to get up from it's side, but he bit down harder, trying to kill it quickly, twisting his head, cutting off its air. The life drained from its eyes, and it relaxed against the pressure until the head was hanging listlessly. Breathing hard and fast, the male wolf stood there, blood dripping down his maw. The dull thud of the head hitting the earth sounded as he opened his jaws, stepping back from the kill. His breath still faster than normal, he glanced over at Uki, an excitement and appreciation showing in the bright eyes. Are you okay? He didn't hit you with his hooves, right? You did reallly well.
Concern mixed with the high of the kill, and he watched her carefully for a moment.
Tapeesa followed closely behind, fangs snapping at the tender flesh of the buck's underbelly to herd it to where she knew Tomkin lay in wait.
The frightened deer tossed its head, outpacing her and Uki drew to a halt - watching with bated breath as the buck prepared to leap from the clearing.
Just as Uki began to fear that it was going to escape, Tomkin was there - leaping through the air to grab the buck by the throat and take it down. Anaktok could only watch in awe at the power his large frame possessed, feeling absolutely puny in comparison.
She drew near, lowering in submission instinctively - she'd received one too many blows for approaching a kill to move with confidence towards the larger male.
The berserker watched him carefully as he drew back, surprised once again by the words he spoke.
"I'm fine, he didn't get me," she reassured, noticing only then that the other deer had scattered and that the meadow had fallen silent in the face of their violence. "Thank you," she murmured softly as she approached, "that was impressive." She gestured shyly to the buck with a sweep of her slender muzzle.
The tundrian pressed close to the deer, touching her nose to its hide briefly, almost tenderly. Silently, she thanked the buck for his sacrifice and the gods for allowing the pack to eat.
"I suppose we take it back now?" She glanced to him, her tail waving gently as she waited for his response.
I'm sorry this is so late! ><
Her answer calmed the nerves in his eyes, his tail fanning the air a few seconds. The silence was peaceful after the hunt, and he could feel his adrenaline fading, as if it was seeping slowly into the earth. Not expecting thanks, he blinked, surprised, but then smiled at her and nodded, not wanting to break the quietness of the meadow with unnecessary words.
At the compliment, his grin grew, and he turned his head to the buck. It wasn't the biggest he had brought down, but strangely, this one felt a bit different. Maybe it was the fact they were on the move to find a new place to stay...or maybe it was the company. Swiveling his head back to the slim wolfess, his eyes sparkled with happiness. Thank you. It's one of my favorite things to do. I've always enjoyed the hunt, the feeling of freedom, the air through my fur...
A longing for something unknown slipped into his voice, softening his tone as his eyes drifted over the land, almost as if he was talking to himself. As she moved forward toward the young buck, he tilted his head slightly, watching her as she lowered her head. It was almost reverrent, and he turned his eyes away, feeling as though he was interrupting something private.
The sound of her voice brought them back to her, and he bobbed his head, his tail matching hers, a lopsided grin on his face. Yes. Let's take it back to the pack. Hopefully it will be enough for them for now.
He moved towards the body again, and impulsively touched his nose to the rough fur of the deer. Grabbing the throat again, he firmly bit down, making sure he had a grip on it before starting to drag it into the woods back towards his family.
you're fine, wanna wrap this one up soon?
Her head tilted as she listened, observing again the intensity that seemed to overtake him at times. She imagined it must be difficult, being so passionate. Strong emotions were not the kind that interested many, it could be smothering.
You run like you're trying to escape something chasing you. The words were there but she could not say them. It seemed too personal to say aloud, as if looking too closely would make them apply to herself, and Uki didn't want to upset him. It wasn't her place to say it.
She nodded, taking a mouthful of deer in her maw and adding her own wiry strength to the task of pulling it back.
You could in this next post if you'd like :)
The silence between them hung heavy, yet it wasn't uncomfortable. Like the feeling of being wrapped in a blanket, it relaxed the large wolf, and he took his time through the woods, enjoying the quietness. The golden orb in the sky had risen further, steams of light spilling through the trees, making the forest appear almost ethereal.
His thoughts drifted, the rhythm of their paws through the underbrush calming everything but his mind. A bittersweet look seeped into his eyes as he spaced, as if he were in another place. For minutes on end, it stayed as they moved, his bright eyes growing more intense, not here, yet focused on the horizon. Like this he stayed, kill in his mouth, thoughts echoing in his mind.
Words lingered on the edge of her tongue, as if she wanted to say something of importance to the Aarluk but couldn't find the right way to phrase it. Uki ignored the urge, unaccustomed to the feeling of wanting to speak to someone and unnerved by it. The silence was comfortable as it settled over them - the pair working in unison to haul the deer back to Tomkin's kin.
Once they'd reached the area, she dropped her hold on it - knowing that she would not be one of the first chosen to partake. It was how she preferred it. Uki would wait until the children and mothers had eaten, slinking back later to take her own share of scraps.
Tapeesa lingered for a moment, for some odd reason not ready to depart from Tomkin's company and resume her lonely existence. Again she felt the urge to say something but could find no adequate words. Finally, she touched her muzzle to his shoulder fleetingly before creeping away - melting into the background of their coalition as easily as if she were a phantom.