Down in the valley, as Kigipigak returned from his visit to the villages there, his heart was heavy. He had looked everywhere within the short span of time he had allotted. Now was the time to wait, to perhaps mourn, and to hope that Sakhmet would return to him of her own volition. He would give her time; in that time, his journey returned him to the foothills of the spine.
It was here he paused to lift his head and call to the wolves of the moon village: 'Kigipigak has returned. I accept the invitation - may I enter?' and then he stood in wait for a response, but the enervated feeling of his loss began to burn a sadness in to him, so he began to move again.
Kigipigak slowly hiked his way along the lower limits of the cliffs, finding the main path which would take him to the village outskirts, but being slow to follow it. Every so often he would look over his shoulder or down from the high places he found himself, as if he might see Sakhmet's red-black shape roaming among the green hills below.
His daughters had been born this day. Aiolos would not stray far. He had a will to leave the man at the border, to have another of Moonglow have him return another time. But his voice was one known well by
@Kukutux. He was an ally, a friend... So with every knowing
@Sialuk would watch her little sisters well, Aiolos made the path toward their mountain bordered home.
The sun man lifts his muzzle to the skies to answer the other.
Kigipigak, come within!
It would shorten the length of time Aiolos was away from Kukutux ulaq if the man were to meet him half way.
When Aiolos meets him, fiery eyes look over this wolf, a frequent visitor of Kukutux. Much as Aiolos had been, once... A young wolf, scarred of battle, thickly built northerner. It was a sense of competition which Aiolos did well to swallow as it prickled at his spine.
Kukutux cannot meet you. She has given birth to our daughters this day.
He explains and with it, a sense of eagerness, to move this along swiftly and who could blame him? He worries for the health of his daughters too eager to have waited for their due date.
I am Aiolos, Siqiniq here. I welcome you.
A voice he did not know sounded sharply from deep within the village. Kigipigak was welcome to enter, so he ceased his pacing and followed the route he knew so well, in to the depths of Moonglow village.
It was there he saw the man; ignited like a signal fire and moving swiftly to where Kigipigak could meet with him. They sized one-another up in the common way that men do. The man appeared annoyed, almost, that he should be here to greet Kigipigak. It wasn't until they spoke that the iceberg understood why.
I am sorry to take you from her side.
Kigipigak said with a small bow. Kukutux asked if I would stay when I last visited. I have decided to come and to do that, as her kinsmen.
The man could be of use among the hunters of the village at least, which would put him to use immediately. Is she well? Her and -- daughters, you say? Congratulations.
To his first sentence, Aiolos dips his creamy lined mug, acknowledging the northern's apology.
And then, As kinsmen?
Ginger ears perked curiously, She invites you to live with her as family?
Maybe, then, Aiolos hadn't any reason to fret at all. Not that he did not trust Kukutux whole, but in that knowing that one day he may too die before his time and he would be forced to watch her from the heavens and she move on.
Thank you... And others soon to come, by Lote. We will be a busy pack quite soon.
He speaks, walking and talking.
As the man moves Kigipigak follows. He takes care in remaining aloof with his posture and does not compete for space.
While he feels a deep regret for having given up the hunt for Sakhmet he focuses on other things to ease his own suffering. The man appears surprised, to which Kigipigak nods and thinly smiles.
Kukutux comes from a place much like my home. We are kin because of that. She is the closest thing I have to family here.
Kigipigak explains. I also come to give my service so I am not alone. Before, I lived with someone -- a girl. She may come to visit one day.
It was not worth Aiolos concerning himself with, not when he had new children to focus on. Kigipigak swallowed back the words readied on his tongue in place of others.
I know my way around this village. If you would rather see to your daughters - and tell Kukutux of my return - I would not want to keep you.
The northern speaks, a smile and then explains. Aiolos ears remain high with a known curiosity of what he has to say. He wonders maybe one day, should these two men come to trust one another, Kigipigak could help to better teach him of he and Kukutux old ways, far different from that of Aiolos own.
If she does, I'd be happy to welcome her. She should not be alone either.
They had lost one another but, should she find her way, Aiolos wouldn't dream to keep them apart. The lion had lost far too many himself and knew of the feeling.
The Greek pauses then, grasping for the man's attention with a softened eye yet stern nod to his words. I shall do just that then.
And with those words Aiolos turned and dashed back off into the forest.