Upriver she walked, the salmon at her side. The end of the spawning season made for easy pickings, this river marking the resting place of any that chose to lay here whether she intervened or not.
Miu waded amidst their dying bodies, her teeth snagging one glistening red body after another as she tossed them methodically onto the frozen bank. The activity of the nesting grounds had stirred the water enough to dissuade any ice, and the river girl knew exactly how to manoeuvre the strong currents.
Blood dribbled down her chin, staining her pale chest a sunset pink as another fish was snagged in her jaws. Their death breathed life to the frozen taiga, but that did not stop a pitiful pang in her chest. Did they know what lay at their journey's end? Or was it simply an instinct too powerful to resist.
Miu waded amidst their dying bodies, her teeth snagging one glistening red body after another as she tossed them methodically onto the frozen bank. The activity of the nesting grounds had stirred the water enough to dissuade any ice, and the river girl knew exactly how to manoeuvre the strong currents.
Blood dribbled down her chin, staining her pale chest a sunset pink as another fish was snagged in her jaws. Their death breathed life to the frozen taiga, but that did not stop a pitiful pang in her chest. Did they know what lay at their journey's end? Or was it simply an instinct too powerful to resist.
January 13, 2025, 08:57 AM
Hours had morphed to days, and days to weeks as Iugajuaq searched. It was a long shot that he'd even find her; after all, it had been many moons since the upriver man had taken her as wife and set her free.
He had hated his father for it, hated the older man too until the truth had been revealed and his rage had given way to a flood of misery. But now he felt no greater purpose than to reunite with Tariurmiutaq.
It was instinct that drew him to follow the river south, pausing each night to gorge himself on plentiful salmon though his appetite had long since disappeared. Yet he knew, he must remain strong for her.
A figure up ahead caught his gaze - a woman fishing in a manner similar to the ice river wolves. From here he could not discern more beyond her obvious expertise and decided, for a moment, to sit and observe.
He had hated his father for it, hated the older man too until the truth had been revealed and his rage had given way to a flood of misery. But now he felt no greater purpose than to reunite with Tariurmiutaq.
It was instinct that drew him to follow the river south, pausing each night to gorge himself on plentiful salmon though his appetite had long since disappeared. Yet he knew, he must remain strong for her.
A figure up ahead caught his gaze - a woman fishing in a manner similar to the ice river wolves. From here he could not discern more beyond her obvious expertise and decided, for a moment, to sit and observe.
January 14, 2025, 10:14 AM
The girl emerged from the frigid currents, the fish still squirming between her teeth until she dispatched it with a swift tense of her jaws. Three was enough, and a woman of the north knew not to take more than was needed. She did not fancy angering the river spirits today.
Water dropped in rivulets down her legs and she gave her pelt a rough shake to rid most of the damp before lowering her head to strip meat from bone. The salmon were old but still nutritious, and would provide ample energy for her to continue south. Where exactly she was heading, Miu did not know, only that she must travel far enough from the river clans so that they may never find her. How wrong she would be about that.
A scuffle of snow behind her and Tariurmiutaq whipped her head round to stare at her onlooker, a flicker of recognition passing over her face. "Brother-?" her voice was barely a whisper, body frozen as an icicle waiting to shatter as she remained still in shock.
Water dropped in rivulets down her legs and she gave her pelt a rough shake to rid most of the damp before lowering her head to strip meat from bone. The salmon were old but still nutritious, and would provide ample energy for her to continue south. Where exactly she was heading, Miu did not know, only that she must travel far enough from the river clans so that they may never find her. How wrong she would be about that.
A scuffle of snow behind her and Tariurmiutaq whipped her head round to stare at her onlooker, a flicker of recognition passing over her face. "Brother-?" her voice was barely a whisper, body frozen as an icicle waiting to shatter as she remained still in shock.
January 24, 2025, 04:49 AM
"Brother?"
At once Suga was on his feet, churning snow beneath his paws in his race to greet the woman - his sister! A sliver of doubt made small as he got closer, studying her features just to be sure before pulling her into a tight embrace. Her scent was different, her face no longer as full as it was. "Miu!" It was undoubtedly her.
"You've lost weight," he scolded light heartedly. "Where have you been? Have you been eating enough?" The questions tumbled from his mouth as he pulled away an arms length. Despite the pile of fish nearby, Isugajuaq could feel her ribs beneath plush fur.
Before he could open his mouth again, she was shoving him roughly away and wriggling from his grasp, leaving the river man to sit in stunned silence.
"If you are here to take me back, think again, brother. I swore to never see another river hunter for as long as I live. That includes you."
Jaws parted, but no sound came. His body, frozen, he could do nothing but watch forlornly as she growled and stalked away. If only he'd told her how much he'd missed her, how he'd searched for weeks to find her, perhaps she would have stayed. But now his heart swelled with grief.
By the time Suga achingly rose to his feet, the sun had crept below the horizon and cast the valley in an eerie twilight. The moon would soon see him gather the salmon and feed in a sad, sorry silence, for as much as his appetite had abandoned him, he did not want to waste food. The task occupied his mind for a time until it didn't, and he was left with a heart as hollow as a fallen tree. What was his purpose now?
At once Suga was on his feet, churning snow beneath his paws in his race to greet the woman - his sister! A sliver of doubt made small as he got closer, studying her features just to be sure before pulling her into a tight embrace. Her scent was different, her face no longer as full as it was. "Miu!" It was undoubtedly her.
"You've lost weight," he scolded light heartedly. "Where have you been? Have you been eating enough?" The questions tumbled from his mouth as he pulled away an arms length. Despite the pile of fish nearby, Isugajuaq could feel her ribs beneath plush fur.
Before he could open his mouth again, she was shoving him roughly away and wriggling from his grasp, leaving the river man to sit in stunned silence.
"If you are here to take me back, think again, brother. I swore to never see another river hunter for as long as I live. That includes you."
Jaws parted, but no sound came. His body, frozen, he could do nothing but watch forlornly as she growled and stalked away. If only he'd told her how much he'd missed her, how he'd searched for weeks to find her, perhaps she would have stayed. But now his heart swelled with grief.
By the time Suga achingly rose to his feet, the sun had crept below the horizon and cast the valley in an eerie twilight. The moon would soon see him gather the salmon and feed in a sad, sorry silence, for as much as his appetite had abandoned him, he did not want to waste food. The task occupied his mind for a time until it didn't, and he was left with a heart as hollow as a fallen tree. What was his purpose now?
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