Great Bear Wilderness [wp] naatak ⩄

looking for @Ipiktok & perhaps @Kalyska? :O backdated to jan 11!!

when her grandson had danced his fill, moonwoman was quick to gleam beside him with a smile. "your moving, it is strong!" she praised him, guiding the young hunter to where many skins had been laid for a great and bloodied feast.

several wolves milled here, speaking and laughing in the tongue that kukutux knew she must come to understand — eventually. 

for the moment, sunshine lived between she and ipiktok, and when moonwoman glanced from him, it was to see a woman quite beautiful not far off, shimmering against the backfall of white snow.

kalyska lingered on the edge of the gathering, her frame barely stirring against the pristine backdrop of snow. the low murmur of voices and laughter rolled over her, familiar yet distant, like a melody she’d heard long ago.  

her hazel eyes flitted over the scene, catching glimpses of wolves in spirited conversation, their joy weaving an invisible thread of connection. yet, she did not step forward. instead, she kept to her quiet corner, her breaths visible in the cold air, a steady rhythm that matched her thoughts.  

she was not oblivious to the glances that occasionally fell her way, but she didn’t seek to meet them, her focus fixed instead on the play of light against frost, the subtle shifts in the snowy landscape underfoot. there was solace in observing—seeing the world unfold around her without demanding a part in its performance.  

in moments like these, she felt a strange peace, though her mind wandered to questions she could not quite name. she had still much to learn of these strange customs, and while @Solharr had given her a home, she could not help but feel like a small pebble slowly being passed by the riverbed it laid in. and she stood, a quiet presence amidst the revelry, unaware of the way the moonwoman’s gaze had turned her way. 

my lil wallflower appreciates the tag :3

A party fed Ipiktok’s extrovert nature and the men’s drumming dance gave his spirit energy. As the bellowing laughs and hooting calls waned, the young hunter fell to the side to where the Nuiruk Matriarch stood – shoulders heaving from great breaths, temples damp with sweat.

He ate up the praise, for all Ipiktok wished to be was the brightest light among the Sunshine wolves.

He laughed, rich. “The men of Forneskja danced well!” he praised like a teacher assessing a pupil. “Though no man could say they danced better than Arrluk,” he added with a chuckle. It was true, the orca-man had the strongest spirit of all!

They meandered toward a resting place. There, Ipiktok’s gaze followed Moonwoman’s glance toward a pretty woman with a forested pelt. The mottled agouti of her pelage was reminiscent of a bobcat’s.

He leaned toward Grandmother’s ear. “Do you know that one’s name?” he asked without breaking his leer.

"arrluk and ajei will marry. it is why he dances well even if his heart is not here." she tugged at ipiktok's ear. "i do not. but we will hear it." without waiting, moonwoman drifted toward the forneskja woman, a soft smile upon her radiantly light face. 

"this man is the son of my daughter vaire. he is firsthunter to moonglow; he has the name of ipiktok," kukutux introduced when that lovely face had turned their way.

elevating ipiktok's status at once was a gambit she sensed might impress his title; his connection to her was assured to do such, but now he held a high role within their village.

kalyska turned at the soft voice, her hazel gaze meeting the light-filled smile of moonwoman. the introduction of Ipiktok gave her pause, as she inclined her head respectfully, her movements smooth and deliberate.  

honor to meet, ipiktok, she said, her tone careful, though her interest flickered just beneath the surface. she herself was beginning to understand the culture of her pack so to hear firsthunter, she could only assume that it was a title that spoke of skill and responsibility. 

her gaze shifted momentarily, studying him with quiet intrigue before returning to moonwoman.  

moonglow must be fortunate to have strong leader in hunters, she straightened herself slightly, the dawning realization that moonwoman was their leader. in such a presence meant she did not want to portray forneskja in a negative light.

words polite, she offered a delicate smile,i hope evening is kind to you and kind to your people.

her introverted nature threatened to pull her tail to wrap around her but she fought back against the pull, finding confidence to speak the way she found confidence in treating the sick. i kalyska, jurtvörður. a small flicker of pride swelled in her chest to be able to have a title of her own.

Sorry for my delay @Kukutux & @Kalyska !

Grandmother wasted no time!

The confident and assured Ipiktok suddenly felt boyishly weak in the knees.

Yet he stood tall, elevated by Moonwoman as firsthunter of village Moonglow.

“This man greets you,” Ipiktok said -- for he was a man to the Sunshine people. “Kakyska, it is good to know your face.”

They were both cordial, yet Ipiktok’s interest simmered within his small glances across the woman’s visage.

“It is a grand night,” he agreed. “Callyope is Ajâtsuk – Aunt – to me. The sister of my mother. Solharr has brought her great happiness.” Ipiktok glanced to Kukutux.

“Tell me what jurtvörður is,“ he asked and leaned toward Kakyska with his full attention.

no worries! <3

noticed first about this kalyska was her quiet, feminine observation. raised to do much the same, to know all while remaining unobtrusive, the sunshine woman approved of this. "the evening is very kind," she assured. "forneskja has given us much welcome."

but she was quiet then, allowing the interplay of young man and young woman to take place. such was the role of atsak, and kukutux knew ipiktok would make a charming impression.

he was a son of moonglow's hearth, after all.