Frustrated with her attempt to integrate with the village wolves (which was doomed to fail given her temperament, which was something Tulukiri refused to acknowledge), the girl completed her morning routine with
@Kivaluk and then distanced herself wholly from Natigvik (which was a kindness in a way, giving the family a chance to breathe a collective breath without her in the way).
She roamed further than she meant to. The idling peak of Nova Mountain loomed as a sentinel along a familiar path; going further would mean potentially racing back to Tulimaq and his rage, which was a tempting thought, but a foolish one that Tulukiri was wise enough not to act upon.
Her path followed the foothills instead, then up she climbed for a solid hour, until the air was thin and she felt a little bit dizzy, and the rest of her was burning from activity.
*steals*
lestan was here, investigating the traipse of their favoured mule-deer herd. blueberry appeared to be the lead doe, supported by her son and her sisters. they were a strong lot, and had become quite accquainted with the gamekeeper as he followed them to and fro through their range.
lestan was looking for the weakened young deer. he felt that it was necessary to prune them now, especially to feed their guests, but also because starvation was a horrid end.
so focused upon his counting and detailwork that he did not see the new hunter; lestan frisked down a slope and toward blueberry, who lowered her head with a warning rumble.
Although she had boasted that all wolves could hunt no more than fourty-eight hours previous, Tulukiri could not count herself as a learned creature in that respect. Her people were hunters but she had always balked at the notion; being a warrior was her dream, and she spurned her parents for their lack of support.
Perhaps that was why her path led here, to this place and its people. To a warning note from a doe that startled her more than it should have. There was a herd here - how could she miss something so blatant? Yet she had; having stepped between a doe and her family (a repeat of Natigvik, just what she needed --) the girl gave a warning growl in return and bristled, refusing to back down.
it was then that he noticed her: strongly-built, blonde, unrepentant. lestan's eyes bulged from his head; he ran to stand alongside her at once. "steady, old girl!" he cried to the lead doe. she halted where she had tensed to trot; her great ears flicked.
blueberry stamped a hoof.
"let us back away, slowly," lestan told the woman, who was by now vaguely familiar if by scent only. "she will charge otherwise."
A ruddy boy came leaping down the mountain, arriving in time to distract the doe and then make it pause in thought, but to Tulukiri he arrived as if in a puff of smoke as a magician might.
He knew what to do and said as much; she, obedient to menfolk with spine, began to slide back a step and then another and siding after that beneath some trees, giving the doe ample space.
Tulukiri watched her the whole way, unsure of the situation and ready to snap her teeth if need be. Force had always worked for her before!
the hunter heeded. blueberry was quelled. lestan let out an exhale as he watched the lead gather her herd and disappear over the ridge. "very good," he praised, turning to face the woman.
where he was no hunter, she was everything one might demand, with a sharp wild prettiness to her face that set him on surprising edge. "i am lestan mayfair. our issumatar tasked me when i came to discover our food sources, and i suppose since then i have made those deer my project."
The doe moved on, with Tulukiri glaring after it, tense and ready to charge with all her bullheadedness after the retreating figures.
She was safe now though, and had the hunter to thank. He introduced himself and had an explanation handy - but she didn't really listen.
Should take her out. Two of us, separated as she was. Why didn't we rush her?
She looked to Lestan and caught herself glaring now at him with residual hostility, and chuffed softly to dispell the rising tension of the moment.
I'm called Tulukiri.
Her eyes traced the herd's path, and she shook out her shoulders to do away with the last of her anger.
she was hardly looking toward him, this tulukiri; he frowned a little but his tail swayed. "no, not her. it's their breeding season, which means if she is not already pregnant she will be. blueberry — that's what i call her — had two fawns late this season. they are not doing well. it is those we should take first, not her. she will replenish the herd."
he smiled and began to lead the way after them, albeit more slowly. "you came home with our sangilak, yes?"
The machinations of the prey herd weren't lost on her. Tulukiri understood now why they couldn't chase down that particular doe, and while she let her rage simmer she was accepting.
He led on, so she fell in to following. The mention of Kigipigak brought her back to the conversation.
He was my tutor when we were away,
explained the youth. Although with how quickly we were attacked on our return, I almost think we should have remained with Tulimaq.
She doesn't mean this seriously and scoffs, watching her footwork.
"well, i am not familiar with tulimaq," lestan admitted. "but i am glad you are here." he smiled genuinely at tulukiri. she was certainly spiky, with an energy that did not invite a soul close, but she was no worse than sadey.
and he was charmed by the cowboy. perhaps it could be similar for he and this one. "how was your journey?" he said, eyes filled with apology for how she had been greeted.
but his heart was proud of amalia for her defense.
It surprised her that the villagers did not know of the man. Kigipigak should have kept them all informed, given that Tulimaq was his superior; he could have come and collected all able-bodies, instead he had chosen only Kigipigak, which was more kind than Tulimaq had any right to be.
Then again, Tulimaq was ready to skin each of them for disobedience now. It didn't matter that Tulukiri had once idolized him the way she now idolized Lestan's master.
It was fraught with danger, just the way I like it.
She answered coyly, passing the boy a cheshire grin so that her true feelings remained hidden.
But there were many of us in the beginning. As we made our way out of the north, different recruits went their own ways. Some sought their original homes.
She paused in the retelling and watched Lestan for any reactions.
lestan listened with interest. like the rest of them, tulukiri was a wild sort, very suited for natigvik. and she liked danger. he could not relate to that, despite the fact he enjoyed her company already.
"was it hard to lose them? these others?" he asked, leading her further from the herd as he idly followed a trio of monarch butterflies toward a stand of trees.
She was briefly distracted by the bugs as well, though not for their beauty. One wafted by her face and she snapped towards it, but missed, and watched it go higher and higher until it was out of reach.
The girl snorts.
No. And yes. I dunno,
she wasn't sure. Most of 'em came from different places. They were recruited as we traveled, like how Kigipigak was picked up on the way. After, they split off to do their own things. Go home.
Her shoulder rolled. I thought some more would come with us, but I guess they missed home too much.
"i suppose i understand that. everyone wishes to belong somewhere, right?" he gave her a soft look and hoped the butterflies would all evade her. a private look.
"so natigvik will be your home," he observed. but tulukiri seemed on edge and restless. maybe she only needed to settle.
The idea of heading back to her parents was revolting. Tulukiri could not fathom why anyone would choose to go backwards like that. Those that had chosen to follow Tulimaq did it to better themselves, to make their names known within Tartok and within history, and upon the first sign of things destabilizing they ran for their mothers?
So Natigvik will be your home,
spoke Lestan.
It was better than running backwards in time, she thought.
For a bit.
She remarks with a touch of humor to her voice. The butterflies having escaped her snaps. Kigipigak asked me to train his boy. After that...
a shrug pulses her shoulderblades together as she follows alongside Lestan. There is no commitment left to Tulukiri, not since breaking her vows.
"well. we will just have to make you feel at home, won't we?" he smiled resolutely, and then swept ahead. "would you be interested in a good tour of natigvik? not just a surface one." it was the very least lestan could do, and perhaps he might get to know her better.
The other wolf took her admittance in stride. If he saw anything wrong with what she'd said, he'd hid it well. It didn't occur to Tulukiri that Lestan might share her sentiment with the leadership; he didn't seem like the kind to do that.
Hell, he offered her a tour! She was about to laugh about it, finding it more of a joke than a true request, but she saw a glimmer of interest in him and realized he was serious. Maybe it would do to know the village better?
I mean, if you have nothin' better to do. Sometime, sure.
She tried to play it off as if it weren't a big deal, but it was nice to be included.
"what could be more worthwhile than showing about a new packmate?" lestan fairly shone with the excitement of it. "we can go now. or whenever you want really. but if not now, i should get back to my tracking."
his tone was warm. his eyes were gay. lestan waited for tulukiri to decline, something he would take in stride. but if not, he had several locales in mind he might show her.
At first he sounded willing to do it, then, much to Tulukiri's dismay, he found a reason not to. His tracking would be the most beneficial use of his time. She'd already gone and messed things up for him anyway.
Tulukiri gave a shrug of her shoulders. Her tone was light and empty as she said, Later, then. I'm supposed to go do some stuff anyway.
She couldn't think of anything immediately impressive so that fell a little flat.
Have fun with your, them, that.
She waved a paw in the direction the deer had gone, and was promptly finding an exit from the conversation. If he had nothing else to say, she'd continue on her own way and hike back across the village.