After touring across much of the terrain with
@Sakhmet, Kigipigak returned to the creek's edge and paused there a while. He drank from a sluggish corner of it, doubled back, and set to work clearing an area of debris which might serve as a resting spot.
He still disliked the idea of excavating a hole for himself, and then thought of the
ulaq which had been built to house him within Moonglow. He had been uncomfortable there initially, blaming his wounds.
After an hour or so of tidying Kigipigak had cleared enough space to allow himself a sunning spot. The segment of exposed rock gave him some elevation. Below and at least a wolf length beyond him trawled the creek, while segmentations erupting from the dirt became rudimentary stairs; these he did not have to clear away.
When he finished Kigipigak was a mess; sporting twigs, leaf-litter, and muddy streaks. He was content to lay upon the slab now while the summer sun baked across him.
Maegi left the water after exhausting herself with prayers, satisfied with the way the dirt and grime had rinsed away from her coat. Now positively radiant in the sunlight, she strolled along the plateau, intending to return to Mou and the children.
The sight of a very disheveled man distracted her from that intention.
Do I know you?
she asked as she drew closer, eyes narrowing to peer at him. There was something very familiar about him—was this the Kigipigak Sakhmet had mentioned? They had met before. . .right?
But where? When?
She sat nearby, waiting for his response while enjoying the slightest breeze upon her drying pelt.
The smell of wet dog preceded her. When she arrived, Kigipigak thought to look over to where the sound of her steps had ceased, but he was too content. So it was the woman that broke the stillness first. It wasn't a voice he would recognize readily, as he hadn't seen the woman in quite some time. She - and her various damages - had left a light impression upon Kigipigak.
Her question earned the opening of one eye, then Kigipigak opened the other and looked her over. A pale creature and older than himself — not small exactly, but not sizeable either. A twisted club for a paw; an uglier face. It was the face that sparked something in his memory.
Ah!
He remembered.
You were the woman from the woods, and I was the man from the north. You were sad when I met you. Are you still?
She did not look sad. Thinner because of the water in her coat, but now that the sun was upon her rather than the darkness of those trees a year ago, somehow better.
A rueful chuckle escaped her at his question. I've never not been sad,
Maegi answered, shrugging. But I'm with my family, in a beautiful place—so it really could be worse.
Dropping the subject of herself, which she hated to linger upon, she focused on him. Her lips rounded in a small 'o' as he spoke, head canting slightly to regard him with a dawning sense of wonder upon her face.
You're Kigipigak, right?
she asked, a smile oozing over her mouth. I thought I remembered that name. You were brought here by Sakhmet. . .my daughter.
Did he know? He couldn't know. Each were as surprised as the other that they had both landed on the plateau, or so it seemed.
How did you and Sakhmet find each other?
she asked.
Her admission was concerning. The woman laughed it off, and Kigipigak did not see the humor in it; however, she went on to prove her happiness to him.
Whent he topic shifted to Sakhmet the young man was stunned, as he had not imagined the girl's parents and certainly had not thought of the club-footed woman since their initial meeting, let alone to compare them.
How did you and Sakhmet find each other?
What a question! Kigipigak was still reeling. He gathered himself enough to answer.
I was exploring the foothills to the west. After camping in a place filled with little dancing lights, which itself was ruined by some kind of rock-fall or disaster.
Kigipigak looked a bit grim as he recalled the scene. The crushed body rotting beneath the stone, the feel of it as he'd tripped upon the skull. She found me, more appropriately. But the place where we met was not safe. I found... old death. I did not want her to see it and so I tried to shelter her, and we... got to talking.
And to walking, and to hunting; now here he was, ready to continue protecting her.
I regret being lost afterward. I was foolish; there were deer and I had hoped to bring home something delicious to make her happy! And instead there was a cat, thus.. All of this.
A shrug of his broad shoulders, to show off the network of scars.
She sucked in a breath at the sight of all his fresh scars, shaking her head. Awful,
Maegi murmured, giving him a soft look. I'm glad you were able to survive.
She had already taken a liking to him by the way he spoke of Sakhmet—feeding her, protecting her. She wondered if. . . Well, even if there wasn't some sort of romantic attraction, it was clear that this man felt something for her daughter. Duty, devotion or otherwise.
Sakhmet and I have been separated for a long time,
she continued, smiling. It's a miracle to find her again.
Maegi nodded at his dirty pelt, cocking her head. What were you doing?
she asked, laughter in the shadow of each syllable.
Sakhmet had explained her connection to her parents and how deeply their absence had affected her, so when this was confirmed by Maegi, Kigipigak only nodded.
She went on to question the murk of his coat and the dulling brown across his wounds, which he had almost forgotten about.
I was saved by my kin, a woman named Kukutux. She tended my wounds until Sakhmet could find me again.
he explained.
Before returning here, I bathed in a medicine pond which darkened my wounds. It had a side effect of browning my furs as well.
thankfully it had begun to fade a bit, and he smirked, wondering what he might look like - messy, unhinged perhaps. Kigipigak did not mind this, as he didn't think of himself as vain.
As long as it works,
Maegi replied, openly smiling now. If Sakhmet had chosen this one, then she approved. Hopefully they all could remain in one place for at least the near future. . .
It was warm, and her thin summer pelt was drying quickly. She thought about settling down next to him, but didn't want to disturb his peace—and besides, she had left Mou alone with the children long enough. He probably needed a break.
I should leave you to your rest,
she said, giving the man a polite nod. Glad you're back in one piece—and thank you for caring for Sakhmet.
She had no better way to express her gratitude than that.
Once he'd answered, even wordlessly, Maegi departed for her own resting place, looking forward to the possibility of a quick snooze.