Phoenix Maplewood all in comes the fury of love

The snowfield easily gave in to the allure of sleep again, too spent to be roused by one of many birds chirping in the woods. Aqakuktuq's ears remained attentive on their own accord, the only part of her floating above the dark waters of unconsciousness. Something collided with her foreleg, and that was enough to pull her mind to the surface. Her eyes shot open, head flinging itself upright and hackles raised in alarm. When the white woman's eyes recognized the cause of her awakening, though, she relaxed. It was just a pup, though her name was unknown to her, as she hadn't been allowed near any of them.

She bristled again upon remembering that fact; Aqakuktuq wasn't allowed near the children. But the pup had approached her, so it wasn't her fault for the close proximity. Still, she couldn't be sure if that would spare her from Shivali's wrath, as the mother was highly distrusting and prickly. Their last and only encounter still left a sour taste in Aqakuktuq's mouth. She could move and avoid the child like the plague, but that idea was silly (and implied the pup couldn't just follow her). If Shivali became upset with her, she'd be wrong for doing so, in the fisher's opinion. So be it.

Aqakuktuq sat up after the little one scrambled over her, hesitant to initiate an interaction. It seems she'd been playing with a young bird and intended to continue doing so. While Fisher didn't agree with the unnecessary torment of any creature―even prey―it wasn't her place to voice that opinion. For now, she just watched what the child would do.