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Ipiktok prepared for his long walk. He hunted, ate well, and bathed in Anik Lake until his long-haired pelt shone. He gathered the toys of his childhood and gave them to
@Nantahala,
@Lariat, and
@Lightfoot. A man would not need these things, and it brought Ipiktok joy to see his newest siblings happily play with them.
“I will return a man,” he promised his anaa,
@Vairë and sister,
@Nasamiituuq.
“I will make you and our village proud.” He kissed her cheek and sought out stepfather next. Though they weren’t particularly close, Ipiktok respected
@Valiant and sought his approval.
A parting word was given to any villager wanting to wish him well. But as the day dragged on, Ipiktok found himself becoming more and more reticent with both anxiety and excitement.
Then, the hart-boy met with the village elders:
@Shikoba,
@Aiolos, and
@Kukutux. There, he received the small parcel of spirit plant – the bridge. He held it carefully in his jaws.
A final glance of gold and sea-green appraised the spine. It was the last time he would look at his land through the eyes of a boy. Ipiktok would forever hold this moment close to his heart.
A strong gust of spring wind pulled at his spirit and set him on a Northwestern path. The journey had begun.
It was no secret that Valiant was concerned. Not just about this, but about life in general. He was a thinker and a planner and, most of all, a worrier. And he was worried about Ipiktok, even or especially having gone on a similar journey at a similar age.
"In my family, we bless our travelers, Be strong and vigilant. Protect one another. Know that I love you so," he said to the boy, with whom he'd never gotten as close as he'd hoped. Even so, he felt a deep love for his stepson, rivaled only slightly (and with extreme guilt) by the visceral adoration he felt for his triplet daughters. He was thinking of them even now, and of his wife, and of moonwoman and Aiolos and Galana.
"We say this because we never send them alone," he said with one of his wry, weary smiles. "Things are different here, and I know you gotta do this by yourself. But just remember that wolves need each other. And if you find yourself someplace needin' help, there's no shame in that. So I'll say, protect yourself — protect yourself like you'd protect your brother, and like he'd protect you. And I'll say that we love you. I love you. And you're takin' someone precious with you. Someone we'll be wishing for, no matter what happens."
He touched his nose lightly to the boy's forehead, as was also tradition in his family. And then, quietly, he told Ipiktok where he might find wolves of the Morningside line in Round Valley, if he found himself in that direction in need of help or company.
And he smiled, calm and benign as Ipiktok departed from him — but inside, he could already feel dread welling up in the pit of his stomach.