Adlartok Arrluk stepped into large forests overshadowed with shade and dangling vines in his face. He sniffed and snarled, hated being back here, but for some unknown reason even to himself, here he fucking was. He had no idea if anyone was still alive, and really no part of him cared, except for maybe Miss. Scarlett or Desna. But even he wasn't sure about Desna, if he was even remembering her name correctly. He moved forward as always his right shoulder pulling tight and adding a limp, but he had learned to deal with it. Hence the reason even more scars marred his already ruined leg and back. He twitched his tail and continued forward, golden eyes on the surrounding area.

He licked his lips and continued forward. Hell he groaned. He was an older wolf now, had grown into his size and his darkness. Despite his age, he was as healthy as could be expected, not yet ready for death.  Unless someone took him by blood or violence.

She had stayed with Atautsikuk until they had established, and then, she had left. Theirs had not been a bad village, but a wanderlust still drove the youngblood and after seeing so many there taking mates and bearing pups, she did not think she was ready to settle after all.

So Taktuq had said her goodbyes to leadership there — to @Issorartuyok and to @Lane and do @Tuuluuwaq — as well as to the villagers she had connected with most, and then, she’d been off.

And she wasn’t really sure she had made the right choice.

Today’s wandering led her to a shadowed place that bore the marks of a once-been pack. She could tell the scents were not freshly marked, and so, after having howled and received no return, she had roamed forward into the forest and let her mind wander over what these wolves had once been.

Maybe this now was one of them.

He was old and grizzled. Taktuq saw him through the woods.

“Uaq!” she piped in her mother’s tongue - surprised that she’d found another here.

Artok sniffed out the stale scent trails that colored the wood, but he kept his body tight and ready to spring should he knew too. He was an old man, yes, but he was not yet dead. And he would fight until he couldn't anymore if he must.

Artok had heard a howl earlier, but had ignored it, it had been too far away to cause him much grief.

Artok heard a noise and he turned swiftly, eyes piercing into the young girl in front of him. He didn't growl, but his hackles rose, and he stiffened, golden eyes taking in the femme in front of him. A deep awning pit broke apart his insides and he stared at the she-wolf. She was familiar, but why he couldn't say, she reminded him of a wolf he had known  years ago. The language that rolled of her tongue surprised him, but he couldn't understand. Perhaps sometime he would have, but his lessons from childhood were long lost.

She was smaller than he, a little ice storm femme with pretty green eyes. Hello. He  murmured quietly, his voice carrying as it always did.

His voice was softer than she had expected.

And his gaze, much sharper.

Taktuq sucked in a breath as he studied her, feeling less exposed than she did recognized. It was strange to say the least. She was quite sure she had never met this man before. He was scarred in ways she was sure she would remember; his did not seem a face she would forget.

“Hello,” she parroted back, a little dumbfounded. One ear turned towards the forest at her side, and her tail hung uncertainly at her hocks. “I-I’m sorry - I didn’t - I didn’t think anyone lived here anymore.”

Artok was a harsh male, mean sometimes, and a little rude. But he was mostly quiet, unassuming.
He quickly turned away his golden eyes, fearful that he would make her more nervous than he meant to be.

Artok sniffed. Forgive me for staring you reminded me of someone i knew long time ago. He shook his head. She didn't look exactly like Miss. Scarlett, but she held herself similar, but she wasn't an albino had no red eyes. She was long gone, he was certain and the past belonged in the past.

He gave a soft chuckle. I don't live here. Just passing through. My name's Adlartok He gazed around them taking in the forest. Eyes flitting from one branch to the next. It was beautiful here, though a bit shadowed, and dark he loved it though. Missed some of these woods.

She laughed, with the tuck of her head. “Oh, it’s alright. I thought I felt recognized,” a warm smile touched her lips, “I had many family further North of these lands, and was told I have my mother’s looks, and my auntie’s eyes. Who was it that you know? Perhaps you once knew one of them.”

Had he known her mother? Her heart fluttered at the thought.

It had been uncountable moons since she had met someone who had.

She relaxed more when she knew she hadn’t just barged in on this man’s home. “We are well matched in being pilgrims here. I am Taktuq. This one is pleased to meet you, Adlartok,” and she wondered aloud, “it is a pretty name. Are you from the North? Or simply another like me?” she grinned at that too, and almost more enjoyed that thought.

Artok shifted and sat down while she spoke, his body easing into a gentle seat. His tail wrapping around him. His met her gaze and studied her as she spoke. Years ago I knew a Miss. Scarlett, that's who you reminded me of, she had babies, but I can only remember the one Desna, was her name. I left soon after that.

A smile graced his lips at the mention of Miss. Scarlett. He owed her a great deal of his life, she nursed him back to health, gave him a home, kept him alive.

Well Met Taktuq. I'm from all around. I don't remember where I was born. Just my uncle, then Miss. Scarlett. They were the ones to raise me at least into adult hood.

He wracked his brains. He truly couldn't remember, not anymore. He only had glimpses, brief flashes of life. Everything else was forgotten.

Scarlett.

Desna.

Her eyes widened.

"My family," she breathed, and wonder widened her eyes, "you have met them."

She had known her aunt by a different name, yet she recalled a time in early summer, in that first year of her life, where she had sprawled with Valette in the afternoon sun and had asked her many questions in her childlike wonder, from sun high to sundown. About Nanook, and Siarut, about her aunt's own mother and father.

That was where she had heard the name of Desna, and the name of Scarlett.

"Desna is my aunt," she had never known Scarlett, but, "her sister, Nanook - she is my mother."

And this man - this man! He had known them both, in their own childhood.

She marvelled.

"If my grandmother raised you as you say she did, then that would make us family, you and I."

And she smiled. Adlartok, her uncle, and she, his niece. Taktuq was not sure how the man would respond to this. In truth, she did not really care. She had already made this connection in her heart, and she would consider his thus, even if he never came to do the same.

The widening of her eyes was the clue that something more was about to be said. However, he was not expecting what she said next. He blinked her family. Met them? He had been there where they lived, had been there when her mother was born. Nanook, he searched his memories, was there one named Nanook.

He racked his brain. He had only worried about Desna, because Scarlett had said she was possibly like her right, but now he fought to remember. Desna, Nanook, Sesi and Alexander. he breathed them out like a prayer. It had been so long since he even thought of those names. Hadn't been around the pups long. Had left shortly soon after that.

He tilted his head and studied the young girl, at her next words he lay his ears down to his skull, spoke softly. Your mother and aunts and uncles would not know me. I left soon after they were born. Too much upheaval, never could settle down.

He tilted his head. In a sense we are. You can claim me family if you like. Miss Scarlett didn't just raise me, she saved me. 

He turned towards her with his right side. His limp pronounced, the scars on his face and between his shoulders eerie. He dipped his head to the right. She put me back together again, and nursed me back to health. She never wavered. She was the best wolfess I have ever met.

She cupped her ears. His words fell on her like autumn whispers. Soft and gentle, but edged with that knowing of what would always come after.

Taktuq wondered of the upheaval Adlartok spoke of. Wondered what had led him to leave her relatives to forge his own way in this world. Valette had told her very little, except that Scarlett had died the same way as Nanook - and this had brought the girl comfort, to know that her aunt had understood her grief in ways no one but her siblings could. Had understood her grief, and had endured, until she found herself strong.

"I do claim you as family," Taktuq said with a smile and gentle certainty. "Uncle Adlartok, for if my grandmother raised you, this is what you are to me."

They were beautiful, the words he used to describe Scarlett. "Are those the wounds she healed you of?" she asked. She had noticed his limp, but had not seen the extent of his scarring until he turned his side to face her. Compassion lighted her eyes, and she imagined how her grandmother might have been when she had first seen Adlartok when these wounds had been fresh.

He could not have been much older than her.

"What did these things to you?"

Artok had little hope for anything. He had learned powerful, painful lessons his entire life. So he felt he always knew what was in his future, more pain.

Artok had always been uncertain what had kept him wandering and had not allowed him to settle. Perhaps it was the wound that maimed him, because he had been intent upon staying and she had ruined him. Perhaps, there was always an irrational fear that someone else would attack, though they couldn't scare or hurt him any worse than his own family, and then a wolf name Tuwawi had done.

Artok gave her a half smile, the scars on his face disfiguring it. Then Uncle I am.

Her quiet question surprised him, but none more so than the compassion that lit her eyes. She was truly of Miss. Scarlett's line for he had seen the same look all those years ago, mirrored in her red eyes.

He frowned in thought, digging into his murky memory for the wolf's name. I wasn't quite yet a year old, i possibly wasn't even 6 months yet when I found myself without a place or a wolf to count on. So I found a pack to join. Duskfire glacier.

He grew quiet as he dealt with the emotions again, though not the fear, no it was anger at the way of things.

I was accepted, granted safety and a home. Little did I know that it was home to a wolf name Tuwawi. She had built the pack before the new leader Malachi had taken over for her children and her met, and she had been driven crazy with grief. She attacked me in the pack lands. Tore my face to shreds, ripped my shoulder all apart. She permanently maimed the muscles there. Then I ran from her and Miss. Scarlett found me. She healed me, and then when Malachi refused to do anything about Tuwawi, she ran with me. Got me away. Upheaved her own life. So that I would be safe. I loved her. She was and will forever be my favorite wolfess. I wish I had been better for her. That I had stayed.