The Heartwood Omak

Any woman would be lucky to have you as a husband, she said, clearly pleased with his plans. And any moonpack would be lucky to have you, too.

Then, curious, she asked, What is a pathmaker? It was a term she was not familiar with.

Kannoyak smiled, proud that she would share such kind words with him. The man had every intention of making his wife proud, of making his children good, helping them grow and learn. It had settled in him when he had watched the snow wolf give birth to a litter of three. Her eyes and the eyes of her husband had changed. Their spirits had grown in ways he could not understand, yet he could see.

Pathmaker is this man’s work. Walk the earth, connect one village to another so that they might trade. Find the safest paths and teach others to cross them. It is good work.

The cotton grass man was fond of his place in the world. It had helped him grow into the man he was - the man that would make some wife proud.

Ah—so that is what a pathmaker was! It sounded like meaningful work, and Ariadne was impressed with the skill set that came with it. Ah, I see, she answered with a sweep of her tail. It sounds like very important work—I could see it being something that would benefit the moonpacks.

How long have you been a pathmaker? she asked next.

A long time, he said, thoughtful in the way his mouth turned and his eyes shifted to the trees. He thought back over the years and wondered how young he might have been when he had cut his first path into the snow, fighting the cold and the gusts of wind to reach the nearest village.

Before Kannoyak had reached his first year.

It had only been a little over three years since his journey had started. It felt like longer to a man who had spent the majority of his life in constant movement. Hunting and pathmaking were all he knew, all he was good for. It offered the man some sense of peace to know that she saw benefit for such skills in the villages of the moon.

Ah—a long time, indeed. Although Ariadne wasn't exactly sure how old Kannoyak was—she certainly wasn't going to ask!—she figured many moons had passed since he'd started his journey as a pathmaker.

They'd been talking so long that Ariadne had lost track of time, and soon, she realized that she needed to get back to her children. She frowned, not wanting their conversation to end.

I am so sorry to do this, but I need to get back to my children, she said, shifting her weight between her paws. Will you be around here? I'd ... like to see you again.

Yes, yes, the white hunter confirmed with an easy smile. Go to your children.

Kannoyak would never ask her to remain when her mind lingered elsewhere. The Teekons were familiar enough that he could keep himself in the area and still find ways to keep himself busy, working tirelessly on the land.

If Moongirl wishes to see this one, she may call out. Kannoyak will come.

The cotton grass man dipped his snout to her and waved his plush white tail in a gesture of farewell. His plum eyes watched as she retreated, weaving her own trail back to the village of the moon.