Wolf RPG

After greeting the sunrise and spending several hours searching for the location of their ulaq, Meerkat yearned for sleep. While @Njord continued surveying the terrain, she found a small overhang and curled up for a catnap.

She woke sometime later and went in search of fresh water to drink. She found a small mountain spring close by and drank heavily. When Meerkat raised her head, her tongue darted out to catch icy droplets from her chops. Her eyes scanned the views, a sharp breath marking the instant she spotted the stranger lurking near the borders.

She didn’t fancy herself a guardian, yet Meerkat felt protective of this up-and-coming village. She squared her shoulders and climbed downslope to meet the stranger. Her whiskey eyes ascertained his build as she came closer and Meerkat decided it would be safest if she didn’t get too close.

Perched slightly uphill from him, Meerkat called, Hello, can I help you?

A voice soon rang, silvery and honeyed to his ear. It had been too long since he'd heard such a voice. A delight, if nothing more.

Gaze ascending, he found a woman perched above. Pleasant in appearance and warm with an inviting welcome. Theoxaris began to wonder if she was whom governed this land. Or perhaps it was another and just so happened to play a part in it all.

Salutations, He answered, tone modulated and husky. I must admit, I am not sure... Just like he had no clue where he was headed, he did not yet know what he wanted from this woman or her people.

Do you, perhaps, govern this territory? Or is there another I should seek in your stead? Not that she would have been no help to him, but his questions were likely better directed to someone with more authority in a land to which he was nothing short of a complete stranger.

“Salutations,” “govern”… he spoke so formally. Meerkat canted her head curiously, trying to guess his age. He didn’t appear much older than herself, though he was perhaps twice her size, with what looked like quite a thick coat of fur. She wondered if perhaps he came from the north.

I don’t, she answered. but my leader is a busy woman and I’m an ambassador. What is it you need? Meerkat pressed.

This woman was blunt and even perhaps annoyed. Theoxaris wasn't fond of the response he was given, but he wasn't about to start an unnecessary arguement.

I apologize for disturbing you, miss... I'll just be on my way, then. 

And with that, he passed a courteous nod before turning away and departing.

Sialuk, tired as she was, made time for Meerkat. She followed the trail of her sister, treading along known paths until she spotted a white figure heading away from Moonspear's borders. When the starwoman arrived, the man had already departed, and she looked at her sister with an inquisitive gaze.

A hunter? she asked, curious.

Rather than answer her, he apologized and announced his departure. Meerkat opened her mouth to tell him he wasn’t disturbing her, then clapped it shut when he promptly turned and left.

Within thirty seconds of his abrupt exit, Sialuk appeared at Meerkat’s flank with a curious question. The Gamma turned and pressed her nose to the pale woman’s cheek, then shook her head lightly.

I’m not sure. I didn’t catch his name and when I asked him to state his business, he just up and left, Meerkat said, lips pulling into a puzzled moue as she shrugged a shoulder.

Perhaps he tests our boundaries, she suggested, thinking of Raimo's fleeing figure. It had been good to chase him away. Perhaps word had spread that the spear was no longer free for roamers, and this strange man had come to see if there was truth to those words. The starwoman could only speculate.

You appear fierce! she teased, faux cowering at her sister's feet with a breathy laugh.

Sialuk theorized about the man’s peculiar behavior. Meerkat had many things on her mind these days and couldn’t spend too much time dwelling on a stranger. She could only offer another roll of her shoulders, a quizzical shake of her head.

Her friend’s quip earned a huff from Meerkat that wasn’t quite laughter, though there was an amused twist to the corner of her mouth now. She was probably Moonspear’s least threatening member, especially with her swollen midsection.

It was almost as if he didn’t want to talk to me simply because I wasn’t the governor here, Meerkat mused, thinking back on his formal speech.

Sialuk scoffed, straightening herself back to full height—which was about the same as Meerkat's. He is fool, she decided, dismissing the hunter entirely. How is Moonspear? Njord? Stingray? she asked in rapid succession. The starwoman thought again of what Alaric had said; was Meerkat too weary from all her worrying? Perhaps there was something Sialuk could give her to brighten her mood and keep her healthy for the babes.

Sialuk dismissed any further discussion of the peculiar visitor. Meerkat was happy to follow suit and never think of the man again.

Everything and everyone is alright, Meerkat said after a brief, considering pause. Njord’s eldest son was killed by the bear. He didn’t tell me this until just the other night. We built something called a cairn for him. And then there were strange, beautiful lights in the sky. We sang together. It was… cathartic.

After giving Sialuk an opportunity to respond to that, Meerkat wondered, What stole you away from the mountain?

Sialuk knew "alright" was not the same as good, but she knew also the circumstances around their arrival here. The news of Njord's child and the bear brought a deep frown to the starwoman. Sialuk had not known of Njord's older child(ren?), but she assumed their mother had long since perished, making Meerkat a second wife. Meerkat then spoke of a cairn and—The dancing lights, she said, a soft, sad smile replacing the frown. Sialuk knew them well, thinking fondly of her own father and brother.

A more mischievous smile replaced the sad one. A man I knew from Moonglow came to the spear. He belongs to a general in Mereo, and I wished to meet this man, so I traveled to the red sand. This is where your mother lives, yes? she asked.

Sialuk spoke of a rendezvous with a man from Mereo, then accompanying him to the canyon to meet his leader. Meerkat felt a pang, wishing she had known her friend was headed there so she could take word to Towhee. But it was too late and there was no use dwelling on the missed opportunity.

She does. I hope she’s well. I’d love to go visit her but I don’t think I’ll be leaving the mountain anytime soon, Meerkat mused, waving a paw toward her rounding midsection. Who is this man? Is he one of your many suitors?

Ah, yes! Soon, Meerkat would bring new life to the spear. Sialuk welcomed their presence, eager to be aunt to the small ones who would come to grow in the village. He is named Glaukos, and... I am unknowing. He is bound to the general, and I do not know if he will leave. If he did, Sialuk thought he would make a find husband, but she would not put pressure upon him to leave Mereo. It would be his decision to make.

When I go again to Mereo, I can bring word to Towhee of your children if you wish, she offered. She had not had time to stay and bring more news to them when she had gone, rushed as the trip had been.

Ah, Meerkat said, recognizing the name, the one with a clouded spirit.

Sialuk had mentioned his strength and temperament as well. Based only on these descriptions, Meerkat thought they might make a good match. They sounded like they might be kindred spirits, anyway.

Then came an offer to run a message to her mother, should Sialuk visit with Glaukos at the canyon again. Meerkat smiled. Towhee might be expecting children of her own, though surely she would love to hear Meerkat’s good news.

She’ll be happy to hear Njord returned. He was gone for a while last summer. We didn’t know what waylaid him so long until after he returned, Meerkat told Sialuk. Anyway, I think she’ll be thrilled that we’re welcoming another litter. I’d love to know how she’s doing too. That visit wasn’t so long ago, yet so much has changed…

But she didn’t want to dwell on that right nor, nor let the weight of her weariness settle on her slim shoulders. Meerkat thought of what else had happened in Sialuk’s absence that she might like to hear about.

Njord and I are on the lookout for a proper ulaq. The first thing I plan to do when we find it is put down that skin you gave us. I’ll let you know when that happens, so you can come and visit.

Sialuk nodded, a coy smile on her face. Meerkat had remembered him.

The message for Towhee she held close to her heart, memorizing each word as Meerkat spoke. It is hard when mother and daughter are apart, Sialuk said, knowing well how strong the bond was. She was not far from anaa, but there were days she longed for the maternal embrace of Kukutux, knowing that she could not be there every day. But she was a woman now, with a village and people of her own. Before the world turned cold again, she would bless moonwoman with grandchildren!

Her mind wandered, but came back to Meerkat when she spoke of her own ulaq. You and Njord will make a fine ulaq, she said, knowing it to be true. The love between you two is—Sialuk cut short, overwhelmed by how touching it was—It is good you have one another.

Meerkat adored Towhee and agreed with Sialuk to a point, though she hadn’t lived with her mother since the tender age of five months old. She did wish they lived closer so they could visit more often. Not only could their youngest children play together but Meerkat could spend more time with the woman who had given her life.

But Towhee was all the way in Mereo (or so her daughter thought) and Meerkat must focus closer to home. The way Sialuk spoke about the love shared between Meerkat and Njord made the sandy Gamma’s cheeks flush with pleasant heat. Especially after living without him for months, she would never take him, his love or his presence in her life for granted.

Aya, Meerkat said, deliberately repeating the term she’d heard Sialuk using. I love him with everything I have. Things are difficult right now, but having a partner—and good friends too—makes everything much more bearable. I’m very fortunate in many ways.

She nudged Sialuk’s pale cheek, looking forward to the day when her friend found her own lifelong partnership(s), then brought children into the world. The thought made Meerkat bring a foreleg to brush over her own belly, another reminder of the blessings in her life.

Sialuk grinned at the repetition of her own word back at her. Meerkat was a blessing to the spear, and Njord and their children would bring much joy to the village. She was excited to share her latest journey of finding love on these slopes with her sister, too. She pressed her shoulder to Meerkat, hoping that there would be no reason for her to leave.