anyone who wants to join the
healing thread instead can definitely do so! <3
much as she wanted to join the hunt, chickadee felt with all the extra kids around that she should keep being available to watch them.
feeling rather confident today, she and
@Inkalorë took point on guiding their caravan up to a high rise from which all the action could be seen. she minded the moonglow kids twice as much, encouraging them to stay with their moonspear cousins.
there were kids from the mountains and kids from the sea! chickadee patiently counted them, her voice a running instruction to move high on the small cliff but to not get close to the edge either.
she glanced around at the adults, feeling outnumbered by their charges, but then set herself to laughter and distractions, making a game of gathering bets on who the hunters would choose.
Ink had not spent much time with Chickadee yet, and they were grateful for the opportunity to know her better. Moonglow had changed greatly in their absence. They let her take the lead, hanging back to greet each of the children with a smile and a cheerful observation about the hunt.
It was natural to be frightened in a setting so crowded and chaotic, they thought. But there would be no room here for such fear. Maybe a song would keep them distracted,
Ink suggested softly to Chickadee, glancing toward where the hunt was taking place. Suppose the children got caught up in watching and witnessed some terrible injury? That wouldn't do at all.
Ipiktok galloped after Chickadee and Inkalorë, though he didn’t pay them much heed once they ascended to the outlook.
“Woah, lookatemall!” The boy gasped as a great herd of bison grazed in the valley below. To the North and South were the hunting camps, where the teams devised their strategies. Soon, the wolves would be upon the dangerous prey.
But How dangerous? Ipiktok didn’t know. He had been too young to follow a hunt of large prey before.
“How many hunters are there?” Ipiktok asked as his bi-colored gaze scanned the distance.
elated to feel as though she was part of something important, maggak wandered from cluster to cluster and introduced herself wherever possible. there were so many new faces, and so many that she also recognized — it was a jubilee, if one was to ask her!
today, she hung with the babysitters from moonglow (which was totally of her own choice and not because anyone had told her to) and listened to their chatter while passing a rock between her forepaws. she squints at the huddle of bodies in the far distance from the cliff-edge. but then there is mention of singing, and immediately her ears twitch forward while her face begins to glow.
i could sing a song!
Salaksartok raced his brother to the top of the ridge (or as close as he would be allowed to go), and watched the gathered bodies of the hunters. He thought they were impressive for a minute or two, but they were talking and organizing, and that wasn't as enthralling when the boy saw the bison.
They're so big!
He scooched closer to the edge as if he could see better that way, splooting with his belly down and back legs in a frog position. His tail was whirring back and forth.
A voice behind him said something about singing but Salaksartok was focused on the herd, and didn't react.
Ariadne had decided to help Chickadee and Inkalorë watch the children. Although they were grossly outnumbered, she felt an extra pair of eyes would help regardless of her physical capabilities.
She was late to arrive and delayed a little longer as she paused her ascent to spot
@Kaluktuk and his group in the distance. He seemed hard at work, in his element, and her heart warmed; she loved watching him do anything he was passionate about.
There was already commotion among the group once she reached the top, and she silently counted the children as she made her way over to the adults.
I apologize for my tardiness,
she said once she made it to them.
Did I miss anything yet?
smol post, am sick
Raen felt like a giant in a sea of dwarves. She wanted to
hunt instead of sit around and do nothing! But she promised Ma she'd behave so, like or not, she lay down and rested her head on her paws, watching from the ledge as all the adults were hunting and being cool and she was here with all of the pups despite being rather large for a six-month-old.
The mountain girl wasn't used to staying still, as she often accompanied her mother when she went hunting, or was chasing her brother.
so sorry! <33
the hooves thundered!
"sing, @Maggak!" chickadee exclaimed, glancing to see if
@Inkalorë would help her begin. the girl laughed, crowding close to
@Ipiktok and glancing around for
@Salaksartok.
"they're super huge," she agreed,
"and i'm not sure how many hunters. at least five per team. let's count," she said, pointing out kaluktuk and rodyn, and njord and heph.
"hunt's just starting," she told
@Asivaq warmly, nudging her shoulder before motioning for
@Raen to come closer to the others, so she too could watch.
hooves flew! bodies lumbered! the smaller figures of the agile wolves worked well. she found herself cheering, shouting, as the respective chases began.
Last post from me unless I’m needed!
Ariadne had arrived just in time and sat at Chickadee's side as the hunt began. She cheered for the hunters, excitement thrumming in her heart as she watched it all unfold; she occasionally swept her gaze over the children, who thankfully were as interested in the hunt as the adults.
After a day of cheering, dancing, and celebrating, Ariadne felt rejuvenated by the gathering, a closeness to her people that felt unwavering.
