Duskfire Glacier pretty thing and such a bad liar

neonate stage. (@Rye) :3

Blind, nearly deaf, and lacking in the whole sniffing department, it was hard for Sikuliak to choose a favorite when it came to his parents. Both were warm, soft, and offered affection regularly but Imaq might have had a slight edge over Rye, given that she was his sole source of nourishment at the moment. (But only the slightest of edges because Sikuliak was already proving to be glued to his father's hip, even as a newborn.) But if the tiny blue merle absolutely had to choose a favorite thing so far, it was the moments after he'd eaten and was ready for a nap, when both his parents snuggled him between their soothing warmth. 

The neonate's mother had slipped away, brushing kisses over both her boys' heads before trotting off to relieve nature's call and stretch her legs. It wouldn't be long before his golden dam returned, given that she was still healing and didn't like being apart from the heather pup for long -- even if she knew his father would never let anything happen to their son. Regardless, it seemed like ages to Siku, who woke only moments after his mother had left the Caverns and was out of hearing range.

He began to squirm and grunt, kicking and wiggling as he searched through the waking darkness that was becoming more familiar -- the dream state of being unborn already forgotten in his first week of life. His grunts turned to whimpers and then hungry cries when he failed to locate Imaq. When the squirming boy bumped into the form of his father, his search became more frenzied, the pup gnawing and suckling on the Hotah's nose with inky gums and tongue when he came across it. 

It was just him and his son, some father son bonding time despite the boy being unable to speak or see. Nothing was going wrong at all, everything was calm, everything was easy. Until the neonate got hungry. The boys cries panicked Rye, he wasn't sure why he was crying. The inexperienced fathered looked around for Imaq but didn't see the familiar ivory anywhere, he panicked more. Rye was supposed to be a midwife, yet he was failing to ease his own sons strife. Crawling into the den, the hotah strategically placed himself beside the babe and offered the warmth of his close by body but that didn't seem to quell the cries. Next his black nose dipped down to meet his son, nudging him slightly to hopefully calm the raging storm. To the fathers surprise it worked, albeit not the way he expected, the cries stopped and were replaced with gummy chewing. His nose becoming the neonates chew toy, the hotahs large chest rumbled in soft laughter. His baby boy, right there, with him, enjoying quality time together. As the boy gnawed, Rye thought to the future and just what kind of kid his son would turn out to be. Gentle like his mother, or rambunctious like his father in his own youth. The journey to that time would be brimming with anticipation but just as his mother told him so long ago, Rye would always miss the days of his childs baby stages. Finally, he could fully understand why. There was not much to match the joy of spending time with little ones.

His hearing may have been a bit underdeveloped but Siku was still capable of catching the low rumbles of his father's laughter, muffled booms like distant thunder that shook the form he curled against in a tiny earthquake. He released his father's nose to let out a disgruntled awoo! -- as if he could already howl and would summon Imaq back to him with the strength of his displeasure. 

He then proceeded to investigate the source of the vibrating sounds, plundering forward on his useless, stumpy legs as he attempted to propel himself towards Rye. His small head weaved blindly with his efforts, pale paws pushing against his father's neck and face when he stumbled upon them -- like he would lift himself up and find his mother for himself.

Imaq was winding through the cool passages of the Caverns, panting slightly still from the oppressive heat beyond the thick walls of their communal hub. She was grateful again that @Tzila (reference) had located the nursery and offered that she birth her litter within its cool refuge where the sunlight filtered back dimly. The angry cries of Siku caused her to chuckle as she neared the alcove of their den, dipping her head beneath the stone overhang as she entered. 

"He is pitsatujuk," she murmured with praise as she delicately removed the pup from his frazzled father's coat and settled down to nurse him. "Strong, spirited." There was distinct pride shining on her softened features as she gazed down at the tiny blue merle.

Her gaze shifted to Rye as their son ate, aquamarines gleaming with a shy spark of warmth. "Siqiqniq and Taqqiq rise and fall seven times. Does Rye want know his name?" She asked, almost timidly, as if uncertain whether he would like it -- or agree with the naming customs of her former people. It wasn't like he'd had much say regarding Siku's name -- he hadn't expressed any particular desire concerning the matter during her pregnancy so Imaq had gone ahead with what came natural to her.

The tiny calls for, presumably, his mother melted the hotahs heart. Although his sons anguish was amusing, it also stirred the fathers will to comfort his boy. He welcomed the neonate into the fur of his neck, gentle with his movements as the babe situated himself. It wasn't but a moment later when soft laughter swiveled his ears towards the entrance of the den, tawny eyes catching sight of Imaq. She swooped in and took their son to nurse him, expressing her pride though her words and soft gaze. Rye smiled, nodding his head in agreement. Only a week old and the boy was quite the explorer, a possible sign of trouble but a welcome one for Rye. He had every intention on taking their boy nearly everywhere once he was big enough and thus far, it appeared their son would be able to keep up out of sheer curiosity.

Nearly stuck in his own inner monologue, Rye almost missed Imaqs question. At first he responded with a quick Hm?—  but almost instantly his brain caught up with him. "Oh, yes! Yes, please." He looked attentive now, excited to finally get to hear what their boy would be called. Rye hadn't entirely left the naming to Imaq but all the ideas he had were inevitably scrapped for one reason or another. 

Soon enough, his mother had returned and brought with her the answer to all of the newborn's problems. Well, maybe not all of them, since a corner of his brain dimly recognized the absence of his father and would eventually beg that this error be addressed -- immediately. For the time being, however, Sikuliak was placated by the arrival of his dam and the milk she offered. 

His belly grumbled appreciatively as he quieted against Imaq's frothy underbelly, kneading his inky beans into the voluminous fluff he found there -- having to root around for a prolonged moment, with disgruntled grunts as he searched, in the thick fur before he found the elixir he searched for relentlessly. Satisfied sucking filled the air as he ate, the only interruption to a conversation he was too young to make sense of (or hear very well). 

sorry for the slight pp, names just never came up IC and the last bit was a bit of filler

Rye seemed so eager that Imaq's nerves melted away, lips curling with a smile that she couldn't have fought even if she wanted to. Aquamarines cracked with sapphire flitted between the son nursing at her belly to his father as the words wisped from her lips reverently. 

"He is named Sikuliak Yuku Qeya-Black. It has meaning of 'first ice in the fall' when waters freeze over. And Yuku has meaning of 'bright star in night sky'. And he has the name of both his parents so that he will remember where he came from."

The honeyed merle glanced up when her short spiel had concluded, watching her intended with careful eyes and bated breath for his reaction.

No worries, you're more than welcome to power play for any reason! Especially for coherence. Short reply again, sorry!! I didnt want to hold these up much longer 

[size=small]Even by the first heard syllable he knew his sons name was indeed better than any he'd come up with and better than his own. The hotahs tail swayed strongly, he was grateful Imaq including his family nam without him needing to ask. "Thank you," He murmured. "His name is beautiful and strong, much like his spirit. It will fit him well." He said while gazing at their boy. Rye breathed deep, exhaling with a hum of joy. His dark honey eyes lifted his head up to view his soon to be, a smile accompanying his soft stare. "Thank you," He cooed, "You have given me so much within such a short time. Thank you." It didn't matter if he had already gave thanks one hundred times or a thousand, it would never be enough.[/size]

Imaq practically glowed to see that Rye approved of the name she had chosen, thinking with a small, secret smile of the next spring. Perhaps if she had healed enough and the Glacier was still thriving, they might try again -- on purpose this time. She wondered if Rye might chose the names of some of their future children, using his own homeland's customs. A moment of marvel was spared for who these possible children might grow to be -- picturing Siku as a young man, playing with his siblings at their parents' hearth. But such things would have their time; for now, she was content in this perfect moment. 

She returned his gratitude by carefully leaning over Sikuliak, who had fallen asleep, and brushing her temple tenderly along the curve of his cheek. She smiled as she withdrew, placing a sweet kiss upon the half-moon of white along his jaw. 

Before curling around their son, already worn out by the short trip outside, she grinned sleepily, murmuring, "Imaq love Rye." "Siku love Rye too," she whispered in a softer tone as she settled around the slumbering neonate, pecking his faintly spotted back with a tiny kiss before dozing off herself. 

Archiving

He watched his love give tender affections to their son, joining in by placing a kiss opposite of Liaks muzzle. When Rye turned to view his darling merle he saw the sleep in her eyes, he smiled softly and placed a kiss on the side of her muzzle as well. "I love you too," He whispered, "Both of you." The last bit was nearly said to himself, so quiet that he struggled to her himself but it could no doubt still be heard. The sight of his two most adored beings in the land sleeping together drew his breath away. That was it, 'that right there is what life is all about'. Only they deeply mattered to him, not that others didn't matter, they did; but the two sleeping beside him mattered most. Rye curled himself beside Imaq, keeping a watchful eye on them for a while before falling sleep himself.