Ouroboros Spine lii. a lifeless face that you'll soon forget

it pained the artisan to have to rely on others, feeling like a burden, but tried to remind herself that this was just the after effects of her childhood with lóminórë whenever the emotion sprung up. she was a valued member of moonglow, as she had to constantly tell herself, and kukutux had already promised that the village's resources could be used to feed her family while she was healing. 

a familiar insecurity sprang to life as the botanist pulled two rabbits from one of the cairns, only slightly stiff with rigor mortis, wondering if she deserved to take even one of the pieces of game with the situation she'd gotten herself into but her children were growing and needed the added protein and fat to their diet if they were to flourish. not to mention her own hunger. she refused to see adrastus let alone take anything that he offered. he had nothing to offer to her but toxicity, same as the plants she grew in her secret garden for @Fennec (reference).

the gamma tried to shake it off as she rearranged the stones neatly into place. 

*greedily snags* <3

many do not like to rely on the actions of others, for it makes them feel weak to not be able to provide for themselves. but thankfully, the strength of the pack is behind the two mothers as they tend to their broods. considering the fact that there are now 7 new mouths to feed [4 from löté's litter and 2 from kukutux's, as well as the return of the firsthunter] shikoba finds herself hunting almost every day to bring back something fresh.

today, she has found herself 2 partridges, plump and ready to be defeathered and eaten. while shikoba held both from her jaws, she sees that the creamy woman who once leaned on her is now at the cache. it is a good sight to know that the woman is keeping herself well-fed in order to ensure the best nutrition for her children. though, a little yip from the native lets löté know that she isn't alone.

shikoba stops for a moment before setting the carcasses down gently. "want something fresh?" eating from caches never did harm, but stagnant blood and stiff meat is hardly appetizing when compared to a fresh kill.

the mother barely managed to avoid startling when shikoba appeared, almost as if she had been doing something wrong -- like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. she placed the rabbits at her paws in order to converse with the warrior, words drying on her tongue as the she-wolf selflessly offered her the birds she had just caught. lótë deliberated for a moment, eyeing the juicy patridges, feeling new guilt well up in her chest. it didn't seem right that her village-sister should have to sacrifice her fresh game just for gamma and her family when she was working so hard to provide for their tribe. 

after a moment, she gathered up one of the rabbits and traded it for one of the birds shikoba had laid on the ground before settling back on her haunches. one piece of old game for one piece of fresh meat. that seemed a fair trade -- she and adrastus could share what the children did not eat and she would offer them the fowl first. 

"thank you, for more than just the meat. it meant a lot to me that you helped me when i was delivering my children -- and i appreciate the efforts you've gone to for our village since joining," the dove demurred softly, inclining her head gently. it was good to see another foreigner belong as she did, to know she was not alone in learning the moonwolves' ways and finding her footing amongst them.

shikoba hopes that the woman wouldn't harbor any feelings of guilt or embarrassment picking from the caches. motherhood is a demanding job, nor only the process of care, but labor and pregnancy and everything else takes all of their energy. she is glad many other women are willing to take on the thankless job of motherhood.

löté is gentle and thankful, for she swaps a fresh bird for a still rabbit. originally, shikoba intends to press for the woman to take both, but it seems she is content with just one. hopefully, the plumpness of the breast on these partridges would be enough to satisfy her taste for fresh blood for not just herself, but for her husband and her young.

praises and thanks are soon offered to the native, and she bashfully turns her head with a sheepish smile. shikoba's job may often go unnoticed at times, but for her, that is mostly how she prefers it. doing the work in the shadows so that others may benefit and not have to worry about who is providing.; it is all what shikoba aims for. moonglow gives her a home, so she must give back something just as needed.

"motherhood big job. important for löté to stay healthy for herself and young. puppies good?" once again, shikoba is direct in her nature. but this time, the dove gets to hear her softer tone of voice. though normally rugged and even raspy at times, shikoba' voice is cleaner to hear and understand.