slow steps sought
@Rodyn. the man was alone, the children surely tucked to sialuk's care.
the moontide leader would need his strength. tonight beneath moonglitter over saltwater, he brought a spindly hare, eyes searching for the bereaved husband.
Rodyn was not hard to find. Tucked beside Samani's death hearth he watched the sunset beyond thectide. Tears upon his russet fur. Ears tweaked forward at sound of paws and he turned.
A tired sad smile. Hello brother hunter.
chakliux settled, shoulder against rodyn's own. the man had been weeping. it was not a sign of weakness, but the seal hunter wondered if the pain inside his leader was too great to bear.
"your children, brother hunter?" he asked softly, wanting to hear of the children to whom samani had given life before her death.
Rodyn was surprised at the show of commadrie and kindness, but his smile grew. It was nice of the support. Rodyn's hesrt was broken he was unsure if it would ever mend, but he also had wells of strength and love to gove b3cause Samani would want him to continue, to raise their children. And for her he would.
A bigger smile. Two fall hunters Rolayne and Panuk. Healthy and brave and already adventurous. I will return to them in a days time. They can see and hear now, and they babble.
I wanted to check on everyone here and visit her.
He took a breath. Moonwoman tells me you hunt for Vaire is she well? Is her husband and her own children? I hunted weasels with her once
chakliux nodded soberly. "she has had three children of her own. i filled her cache before i came back to moontide."
there was another silence. "rolayne. panuk. these are good names, rodyn. their mother is in those titles." there was a glissade of pain upon his heart.
he remembered when raiyuk had been so young.
his wife, gone. his son, running toward light and sea.
"will you come back here, rodyn? or will you stay with the moonwolves?"
Rodyn smiled albeit sadly. Three is a good number.
his voice choked a little and he thought of his daughter now with her mother.
Rodyn smiled. Yes she is. And in their laughter and in their strength. I know i cannot speak her name, but they will know her and they will know she loved them
Rodyn nodded. As long as wolves need a leader in moontide I will be here. This was her dream too, and I intend to keep it for her as long as I am able.
Our children will know forest and sea as we both wanted.
rodyn would not move from this place. chakliux celebrated this with a low grunt, a sound between men to recognize what has been said.
he spoke in love. he did not say her name. samani. the man found he too could not say it aloud. how would a seal hunter bury a wife?
his son would move on. nasamik had not come back. the seal hunter would remain in waiting, but one day he would ask if rodyn would allow him to be a traveling spear.
"i will hunt for marina, while you rest, rodyn," chakliux offered in respectful tone.
Rodyn had not managed well. His heart still longed for Samani. He still saw her in his dreams sometimes on the wind. He still smelled her, heard her. It was both painful and comforting.
Rodyn nodded. Thank you.
A soft hmm and then he spoke softly. I ask much of you, but If you can manage i would also like some food brought to Sapphique a and where Vaire is. Take Heph with you to Sapphique they prefer women. I will not allow our allies to fail because we are grief stricken. She wouldn't like this.
"i have been to see vaire. she has three children. two boys, salaksartok and ipiktok, and a girl, nasamiituuq. sialuk has borne maggak and her wife acrux. all these names, cousins to your own sons."
family persisted. endured.
of sapphique; "it will be done." and if there was nothing else, chakliux would stand, offer a dip of his head to rodyn, and then stride off to prepare for his tasks.
work soothed a man's aching heart.