She deliberated for a few days before deciding she really ought to trail Caracal to the caldera, make certain he arrived home safely. She reached this conclusion around dusk. Meerkat considered waiting until morning but now that she'd made her decision, she was raring to head out immediately.
The yearling made her way to the borders, but stopped. Bracing her feet in the light snow underfoot, she tossed back her head and called out to
@Issorartuyok. Was he ready to accompany her on their trek to Redhawk Caldera, at long last?
The familiar voice drew the man’s ears to a point. He turned his head to the border of the glacier where Meerkat would be and contemplated his plans to journey with her across the wilderness. The importance of the fact that he would be meeting her mother did not escape him, but his mind was heavily occupied by thoughts of the deer they had found in the woods. There was sickness around them. Issorartuyok did not know yet how it would impact their village.
Trotting swiftly, his large frame crossed the earth. The air had grown colder. The northerner felt enlivened by the touch of it against his skin. In just another month, his coat would be thick with winter fur and the ground would be covered in fresh blankets of snow. Issorartuyok felt hopeful in this realization.
As the large male neared where Meerkat was, he offered a smile and lifted his head to her.
Hello, scout Meerkat. We are ready to embark?
He heeded her call promptly. Meerkat drew in a breath and waited for the uptick in her heartbeat to settle before she returned his smile, nodded and replied, "I'm ready if you are." She paused for only a second before telling him, "Caracal took off on his own a couple days ago but I still want to go and make sure that he got home safely. Do you still want to bring Veteran along?"
She sort of hoped Issorartuyok would say "no," though she knew he was a man of his word. If he'd told Veteran he could come, then surely he would want to summon the boy. Meerkat could try to be patient. Besides, she didn't mind having some extra company, even though it made her wonder if what Lane predicted would come true with a third wheel along for the journey.
It seemed that the younger brother, Caracal, had already started on his way home. The northerner glanced to the distant terrain with some concern. He’d seemed quite young still, when they had met each other. Issorartuyok was not certain he would have liked to send his own son venturing into the unknown without some modest supervision.
When Meerkat asked about
@Veteran, the northerner returned his gaze to her and sighed.
I wished to bring him so that he could learn, but we have discovered that there is illness in the prey outside of our village, Meerkat…
Issorartuyok was not certain if she had heard the news of it, but he believed it was important enough to share, important enough that they should consider options. It would be good to gather her opinions on their journey. She had a pleasant way of expressing her thoughts that he had grown to enjoy.
Veteran will stay here to protect the others. I have asked him to watch the herds and he will tell me if others show signs of the same illness. I worry… if it spreads.
Tagging Veteran for some mentor/mentee info he might like to include in posts. ^^
Too caught up in her own worries about her brother, Meerkat hadn't been privy to the latest news. Her lips parted when Issorartuyok mentioned seeing signs of illness in the game, then expressed worry about its spread. She couldn't speak to the subject, though her brown eyes captured his for a moment to commiserate in concern for their pack before Meerkat let her gaze drop away.
So, Veteran wouldn't be joining them. She nodded her acknowledgement, then fell into a contemplative silence for a moment before voicing a sudden thought. "We should keep an eye out for Imaq and Sikuliak while we're out. Remember how I told you I spent months searching for my missing relatives, only to burn out? I'm kind of anxious about triggering myself but I told Rye I want to help. And I want to know what became of them."
She blinked, gazing off into the darkening distance. Were they out there? Was their disappearance tied in with this sickness in the prey? Imaq was a hunter, after all. But maybe that was a stretch. Meerkat breathed in and out, watching her warm breath furl before her eyes, then glanced over to Issorartuyok to see what he had to say.
We will search for them, and we will tell their names to others so that they might search, as well.
Issorartuyok nodded his head in understanding. He did not want for the young scout to grow weary at the thought of failing such a search. In their short time knowing each other, the northerner had found how easy it was to see the way Meerkat cared for those around her. She was dutiful in more than her work, but her heart.
I will help to shoulder this search,
his gaze found her intently, so that you do not feel the entirety of its weight.
They did not need to discuss how to move on, if Imaq and Sikuliak were not found. It was a conversation for another time, when all hope had vanished. They would speak word of the two missing members, and they would ask that the spirits watch over them until they could be found again. It could do a great deal for the cause.
Shall we begin?
Issorartuyok met her gaze and softened. The man’s muzzle drew up, and he smiled to the scout with warmth in his eyes.
cameo
Lane took note of Meerkat's summons for Tatkret, knowing that this must mean they would soon be on their way. Veteran had been sulking a bit, aware that he was missing out on a big adventure, but he also seemed eager to fill his mentor's pawprints while he was away. Her children were both an assortment of puzzling contradictions. How chaotic and confusing it must be, to be an adolescent!
Lane waited for a bit, and when she was certain that the pair of travelers would be off, she tipped back her head and let her own voice rise into the sky. She invited the rest of the pack to join with their collective voices, and together Duskfire Glacier sang out their blessings for the travelers, bidding them farewell and praying for their swift, safe return.
I figured this one was wrapped, so feel free to conclude and/or archive.
She already liked him quite a lot, though the offer he made touched her in a deeper way. Meerkat had a split second to realize she might actually be falling in love with Issorartuyok a little bit before he asked if they should begin. On the verge of shaking her head at herself, she instead froze and then nodded, whilst simultaneously shoving aside that errant thought.
"Yes, let's," she replied simply, breaking into a trot. She glanced back at Issorartuyok with a vague smile, then faced forward again as they breached the borders and headed into no man's land, Lane's well wishes fading behind them.
The howl of goodbye was a kind sound to follow them from the glacier’s territory.
The duo set off on their journey with kindness following them. Issorartuyok would think back to it and find that he was grateful for the closeness of Duskfire Glacier’s wolves. They were proving themselves to be just as close-knit as his village in the north. The man felt that his spirit had led him there with intent. That he had met Meerkat early in his days of searching was another kindness that had been shown.
As they ventured into the wilds, Issorartuyok struck up odd conversation points with the young scout. He was pleased with his company.