Leaving home to follow his brother had been a tough decision.
On the one hand, he was loath to leave his parents, particularly his mother. Simbelmyne had endured so much, especially during their adolescence, and he didn't want to worry her with yet another child far afield.
On the other—well, @Katmai had been lost once. Kitimat thought he'd never see him again. Luckily, he'd returned. Now, with him gone again, the same fate was not guaranteed, and Kitimat was worried that, if he didn't intervene, his sibling might be gone forever.
"I'll come back," he told his parents, giving them a long embrace.
Miles and miles and hundreds of miles later, here he was, at the edge of his brother's scent trail. Even that was faint, and so he doggedly pursued whatever he could find of that smell in these northern foreign lands.
On the one hand, he was loath to leave his parents, particularly his mother. Simbelmyne had endured so much, especially during their adolescence, and he didn't want to worry her with yet another child far afield.
On the other—well, @Katmai had been lost once. Kitimat thought he'd never see him again. Luckily, he'd returned. Now, with him gone again, the same fate was not guaranteed, and Kitimat was worried that, if he didn't intervene, his sibling might be gone forever.
"I'll come back," he told his parents, giving them a long embrace.
Miles and miles and hundreds of miles later, here he was, at the edge of his brother's scent trail. Even that was faint, and so he doggedly pursued whatever he could find of that smell in these northern foreign lands.
Katmai!he called out, boyish baritone echoing through the open land. He walked and called out at intervals, mouth pulled tight in worry.
May 14, 2025, 07:17 PM
He hadn't meant to stick around for long, but he was interested in finding the strange place spoken of by the strange woman. His searching had turned up many things of interest, but none that could hold him here for much longer.
As luck would have it, however, it held him just long enough for a familiar voice to reach his ears. He recognized at once that his brother had come for him.
"Kitty?" he called back, turning toward the sound and setting off in search of the other boy. His tail waved in happiness when they caught sight of one another, though part of him knew that he'd caused no small amount of grief with his departure. "What are you doing here?" he asked, even as he supposed that he already knew.
Still. He moved forward to embrace Kitimat, partially out of gladness and partially as a test — to see just how much trouble his brother thought he ought to be in.
As luck would have it, however, it held him just long enough for a familiar voice to reach his ears. He recognized at once that his brother had come for him.
"Kitty?" he called back, turning toward the sound and setting off in search of the other boy. His tail waved in happiness when they caught sight of one another, though part of him knew that he'd caused no small amount of grief with his departure. "What are you doing here?" he asked, even as he supposed that he already knew.
Still. He moved forward to embrace Kitimat, partially out of gladness and partially as a test — to see just how much trouble his brother thought he ought to be in.
May 15, 2025, 01:12 AM
The nickname niggled at him—so dainty-sounding, delicate, childish. If it were anyone but Katmai speaking, he would have rebuffed them, turned away.
But this was his brother, and so the young man met his embrace with eyes that teared up slightly, pulling him close before pulling away a bit breathlessly.
Instead of voicing that thought aloud, his orange gaze scanned the horizon around them, making a mental map of the landscape.
But this was his brother, and so the young man met his embrace with eyes that teared up slightly, pulling him close before pulling away a bit breathlessly.
Why do you think?Kitimat asked, raising his brow. I lost you once; I won't lose you again.
Instead of voicing that thought aloud, his orange gaze scanned the horizon around them, making a mental map of the landscape.
What are you doing here?he echoed, though through emphasis, the question was slightly different.
May 15, 2025, 01:20 PM
Much of the time, Katmai felt quite distant from his family. He'd been lost for so long, and so young! Even so, he could remember the Before times, and folding himself into his brother's arms evoked a very similar feeling.
Until — Ah, there it was.
"I'm going to the cuesta. The one where grandmother was born."
He drew back to measure Kitimat's expression, a pang of guilt searing through him at the tears in the other boy's eyes.
"Blackbear's somewhere around here, too," he added, speaking of their youngest uncle, from said grandmother's latest litter. Katmai was not actually sure he was still nearby, but he hoped this might add some credibility to his mission. He was being supervised! Supposedly.
Even if it was by a young man not much older than they were.
"And then maybe the island," he threw in, despite having had no solid plans before now to find the place. "Where great-grandmother was born. Wouldn't you like to see that?"
See anything? the boy wondered, but did not say aloud.
Until — Ah, there it was.
"I'm going to the cuesta. The one where grandmother was born."
He drew back to measure Kitimat's expression, a pang of guilt searing through him at the tears in the other boy's eyes.
"Blackbear's somewhere around here, too," he added, speaking of their youngest uncle, from said grandmother's latest litter. Katmai was not actually sure he was still nearby, but he hoped this might add some credibility to his mission. He was being supervised! Supposedly.
Even if it was by a young man not much older than they were.
"And then maybe the island," he threw in, despite having had no solid plans before now to find the place. "Where great-grandmother was born. Wouldn't you like to see that?"
See anything? the boy wondered, but did not say aloud.
The cuesta. He'd heard tales of it from Grandmother, of course, but it was so far in the past and so removed that he found the whole thing a fantasy, and cast any curiosity aside. Clearly, Katmai had felt differently.
Kitty hadn't inherited the wanderering spirit that lived within so many of the Morningsiders. He was content to stay put and look after his family—
Except, apparently, if that meant going off after one of the closest wolves to his heart.
Blackbear,Kitimat echoed, mentally sorting through their list of kin. Before he could puzzle that one out, his brother was asking him something about. . .an island? Oh, the island, where their mother's family had once lived. Smiling faintly, he nodded, though the gesture was more in courtesy than any sort of intrigue.
Kitty hadn't inherited the wanderering spirit that lived within so many of the Morningsiders. He was content to stay put and look after his family—
Except, apparently, if that meant going off after one of the closest wolves to his heart.
Are you just visiting?he queried. The wind lifted the fur along his neck and shoulders, but his eyes remained steady, trained upon his brother's face.
May 16, 2025, 01:54 PM
Katmai didn't like these questions.
The young male turned his face away as if bothered by the wind, wishing he had an excuse to further hide it. In truth — being with their family upset him. It reminded him of something that had been lost. Not just their grandfather or the seal hunters or Moontide itself, but something in him that hadn't been the same since returning home from his long absence.
He hadn't talked about what had happened out there with anyone. He didn't want to talk about it, now.
"Nothing could keep me from you all," he replied, just a little sullen. He resented — not quite the question, and certainly not Kitimat himself! But the feelings these things evoked in him, and his own inability to make Kitimat understand. He could not articulate just how deeply he'd felt the need to get away.
"I don't know how long I'll travel," he went on, still feeling hunted, "but you're still my family. I'll visit everyone. Our parents and our grandmother and our cousins." Whatever the wolves of Round Valley were, and any maternal cousins he could track down as well.
"I need to do this," he said, looking back up at his brother's face. "I need — I just needed to be somewhere else. Do you ever feel that way?"
His burnished gaze was imploring. He had long wondered if he was the only one who felt the heaviness of their fractured home.
The young male turned his face away as if bothered by the wind, wishing he had an excuse to further hide it. In truth — being with their family upset him. It reminded him of something that had been lost. Not just their grandfather or the seal hunters or Moontide itself, but something in him that hadn't been the same since returning home from his long absence.
He hadn't talked about what had happened out there with anyone. He didn't want to talk about it, now.
"Nothing could keep me from you all," he replied, just a little sullen. He resented — not quite the question, and certainly not Kitimat himself! But the feelings these things evoked in him, and his own inability to make Kitimat understand. He could not articulate just how deeply he'd felt the need to get away.
"I don't know how long I'll travel," he went on, still feeling hunted, "but you're still my family. I'll visit everyone. Our parents and our grandmother and our cousins." Whatever the wolves of Round Valley were, and any maternal cousins he could track down as well.
"I need to do this," he said, looking back up at his brother's face. "I need — I just needed to be somewhere else. Do you ever feel that way?"
His burnished gaze was imploring. He had long wondered if he was the only one who felt the heaviness of their fractured home.
May 16, 2025, 02:09 PM
He felt the uncomfortable irritation in Katmai's words and gestures, even though his brother tried to disguise it. Kitimat knew he'd struggled since the Incident and didn't blame Katmai one bit. It had been traumatic—for everyone, but especially the young boy.
He understood that, at least. But as for the wanderlust. . .
It was brisk today in the valley, though thankfully his plush coat—not quite completely shed for summer—kept him warm enough. He didn't know where to go from here. What if his brother didn't want his company? Maybe Katmai wanted to explore alone.
He understood that, at least. But as for the wanderlust. . .
No, not really,Kitimat remarked with a shrug, though his expression was soft.
I just want to be near family—help them, protect them, no matter where they are. That's why I'm here, Katmai. I just needed to make sure you're okay.
It was brisk today in the valley, though thankfully his plush coat—not quite completely shed for summer—kept him warm enough. He didn't know where to go from here. What if his brother didn't want his company? Maybe Katmai wanted to explore alone.
May 16, 2025, 02:27 PM
The love he felt for Kitimat could never be diminished, of course — but he was jealous, sometimes. He was jealous, now.
"Me too," he said, feeling helpless and frustrated at this strange gap between them. Katmai wished he could be happy back at home, that he could be as responsible and steady as his brother. He missed their parents and their sisters already, but he could not bring himself to return to the suffocating atmosphere from which he'd fled.
"I'm glad you came," he said, his heart still heavy despite how earnestly he meant these words. "I — " I wish things were easier. "I'm glad you're here."
He knocked his head into Kitimat's shoulder.
"You're not going home yet, right?" he asked, trying for nonchalance. He didn't want to keep his brother from their family — their parents could surely use his support — but he wanted Kitimat's company for himself, too.
"Me too," he said, feeling helpless and frustrated at this strange gap between them. Katmai wished he could be happy back at home, that he could be as responsible and steady as his brother. He missed their parents and their sisters already, but he could not bring himself to return to the suffocating atmosphere from which he'd fled.
"I'm glad you came," he said, his heart still heavy despite how earnestly he meant these words. "I — " I wish things were easier. "I'm glad you're here."
He knocked his head into Kitimat's shoulder.
"You're not going home yet, right?" he asked, trying for nonchalance. He didn't want to keep his brother from their family — their parents could surely use his support — but he wanted Kitimat's company for himself, too.
May 17, 2025, 12:54 AM
He nodded along with his brother's sentiments, and as Katmai came toward him, Kitimat pulled the yearling fully into his embrace. He grasped him tightly for a few long moments, relishing the gentle thrum of his heart, the smell of his pelt.
Nothing was guaranteed, and to have Katmai here was a blessing—but he would also work to ensure they were not separated again.
Of course, he might well be unwelcome on whatever journey his sibling had in mind—and Kitty would happily piss off if that were the case. But otherwise, he was stuck to Katmai like glue.
Nothing was guaranteed, and to have Katmai here was a blessing—but he would also work to ensure they were not separated again.
No, I'm not,he replied, voice gruff. He pulled away, albeit reluctantly, and gave his brother an insistent stare.
I'm following along with you, Katmai. I wanna make sure you're safe. For your sake, for mine, and for mother's. Wherever you're planning on going, count me in.
Of course, he might well be unwelcome on whatever journey his sibling had in mind—and Kitty would happily piss off if that were the case. But otherwise, he was stuck to Katmai like glue.
May 18, 2025, 11:25 PM
Kitimat still smelled like home; Katmai drew in the familiar scents and thought, for a moment, about calling the whole thing off. Telling his brother that that he'd seen enough and that he was done, now, and that they ought to just go home. That embrace almost broke him — but it bolstered him, too. And he felt stronger as they drew apart.
Strong enough to carry on.
"Excellent," he said with relish, his jovial tone belying the naked relief and sentiment in his eyes. "Because Blackbear wandered off over a week ago, actually — he went roving."
Which had been a popular activity for the youths at Round Valley, but not one that he'd felt compelled to participate in, even if it'd been allowed. Even now, he felt more queasy than interested in the idea of tracking down women to flirt with. He wondered how their uncle (cousin?) was getting along, but truthfully, he could hardly imagine the intricacies of such a quest.
"He said he'd meet me at the cuesta," he told his brother, trying to gauge his level of interest without giving any of his own away. "Unless you wanna track him down first?"
Strong enough to carry on.
"Excellent," he said with relish, his jovial tone belying the naked relief and sentiment in his eyes. "Because Blackbear wandered off over a week ago, actually — he went roving."
Which had been a popular activity for the youths at Round Valley, but not one that he'd felt compelled to participate in, even if it'd been allowed. Even now, he felt more queasy than interested in the idea of tracking down women to flirt with. He wondered how their uncle (cousin?) was getting along, but truthfully, he could hardly imagine the intricacies of such a quest.
"He said he'd meet me at the cuesta," he told his brother, trying to gauge his level of interest without giving any of his own away. "Unless you wanna track him down first?"
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