Moonspear lawmother

"this i hope," chakliux told the shy simbelmyne with a smile that held many things beneath it. she did not know men; this was clear to him by how he said such things overtly, and how she withdrew in shyness. but it was not without interest, and this also was clear.
he did not press; his laugh was soft and only for the two of them. there was no need to suggest that the mountainwolf choose him, it was clear enough. 
"there is a thing that is done among certain seal hunter villages." he vied now, dipping muzzle to seek her eyes; "when a woman wishes a man, she says so to the women of her lodge, and they choose a hunter for the First Rite." he did not elaborate, he would allow her mind to reach for its own notions. the young women sometimes believed themselves to be in love with that first hunter, but such a marriage would be discouraged. and so this rite was sought only for certain reasons, and not so often. its event was a reason to feast and to celebrate.
the wind was rising again; chakliux rolled his eyes in faux irritation at the break in the moment and grunted, pointing with his chin in a gesture that said they should descend back down to more level ground.
"the ice will arrive. if it hurts your feet, wrap them in rabbitskin. slowly you will become used to the feel." his teeth glittered in another grin, the wind lifting his fur, and slowly turned to drop down the ledges.