She found the lynx in the alpine forest, preening like she owned the place, and with lips peeled back, Nanook circled to confront her. A deep fear pierced the furthest reach of her memories - the sickly sting of herbs, and the blood-stained throat of an ivory pillar - but the Apaata charged, driven by adrenaline, the thought of her siblings, and the unbridled need to protect.

The lynx met Nanook with fur reminiscent of icicles, and fangs just as sharp. They tumbled in a locked brawl until the cat stole out of the Southerner's grasp and bulleted toward the glacier - toward IkKanattuk's very heart - and something in the Apaata snapped. The forest regressed to nothing beyond the stain of shadow and light; her surroundings drowned until she could only feel the tear of rock against her paws, and could only see the winding guise of the enemy. She did not notice where the lynx led her, didn't sense how the world dimmed then darkened, grew dank and cool, only how the cat's fleeting silhouette grew fainter yet nearer. And in the darkness, she sprung.

She hardly felt the embrace of the earth, the icy stone that brushed her back before she landed on the lynx and tussled forward, locked in combat again. Blood spilled and mixed with blood, and shadows concealed the brawl. The hellish scream of wolf and beast rose from deep underground and reverberated through the tunnel, blocked from the sky by the glacier above, before a crunch and a final shriek. Silence, and the victor's heavy breath -

- a deep rumble, and a stifled wail, cut short as somewhere underground, the glacier sighed and collapsed -

and the darkness swallowed her whole.

           

 
There hadn't been much commotion the previous days, the sun lingered less and the moon wandered longer across the sky as the days shortened and the nights grew in matching stride. There was snow now, falling in giant flakes from the sky, the grey clouds hung heavy.

Siarut had just started his patrol for the first time, and he couldn't help but feel on edge. It had been to long since something happened, he could feel the pit in his stomach that settled into an ache as he walked. His breath catching in his throat every so often, causing him to pant. His fight with Takiyok while drifting into a more neutral stance, Sia was still slight riled by his sister, and had kept his unease to himself for the most part.

Regret struck him, as he caught the scent of the lynx. The sly creatures, were out and about more looking for the food that was quickly becoming more and more scarce. He had noticed on edging along the border some days ago, but it had appeared to move off as quickly as it had arrived. Until now anyway. With raised hackles and a stiff tail, the Atausiq followed the scent before calling for help. Best to be sure what was happening, before he called the troops.

What he didn't expect was to find Nanook's fragrance quickly accompany that of the lynx. His heart jumped into his throat, and the blood rushed his ears. His more reckless steps speed up to find the scuffle in the snow, which circled around the territory and started to head for the caves. Now are a full sprint, Sia happened upon a crevice, where the glacier hung, and squeezed, blocking the light from view.

Blood hung heavy in the air, the scattered specks that lead deeper grew in volume. He sob echoed around the icy walls, bouncing back at the man as he assumed to worst. "Nanook?" He called yelled, as the trail ended suddenly. A sheet of ice preventing him from investigating more closely. "NANOOK?!" He tried again. A sob racked his frame once more.

Slamming his body against the ice he tried to move the offending object. Forcing his way toward the woman he cared for so deeply.