Silverlight Terrace Arnaraq

I actually wasn't sure where this was intended to go. I hope this territory is alright. <3 This can be set right after our last one.

From the heart of Moonglow and then out of it, Samani trekked with her mother to an area that would allow them a better chance to observe the herds and learn the beginnings of hunting. The young figure could scarcely keep her paws from darting ahead. The moon child was filled with light energy. Even as her jadestone eyes fell upon her mother, she was warmed.

There was a place where the child believed they might be at a better advantage. She glanced around, looking to see if there was an area nearby or ahead of them where @Kukutux would stop. Samani imagined that there would be some speaking involved, which was perfectly fine. She merely wanted to see the herds for herself.

this is perfect! <3

samani cut a lithe figure against the shadows.

kukutux wished to let out her own stride and come to the girl's side, but her body had stirred with the first notion that she must be more calm.

and so she followed at a more sedate trot, pausing in a small area clipped down by cervine teeth. "brother deer has been here," she murmured to samani. "do you see the marks his feet has left upon the ground?"

Samani remained intent upon her mother. She watched closely as the moon woman bent to examine the markings left by deer. The child padded toward it with certain steps, pausing just where she saw the markings left in their unique print. Deer did not have the paws of wolf. Their feet were sharp and hard.

Brother deer, Samani whispered in confirmation. She breathed in the scent of it, hoping never to forget the smell. Naturally, she looked ahead where the hooves had journeyed. The moon child looked to her mother, eager to follow.

kukutux grinned and went on.

she was reminded of doing so with sialuk when they had lived upon the mountain which was once moonspear. she led samani along the trail until they came to tufts of fur.

there she inhaled and patted each with her paw. she indicated that samani should do the same, gaining the feel and scent of the deer for which they searched. "your anaa lótë knows brother deer very well. her eyes have seen them all."

The moon child mimicked her mother carefully, following and stopping in all the same places so that she could test them for herself. The fragrance of the deer was remarkable. Samani thought that it must have taken a great deal of restraint to work together to hunt one, for the urge to spring ahead was poignant inside her.

Are the caribou like brother deer? Samani asked of her mother. Her eyes flitted toward the pale woman curiously. She had learned enough of the ungulates to know that they shared the same paws, hard things that printed upon the earth. They traveled together – herds. Small things, Samani had pieced together on her own.

"yes. but caribou run in larger herds. and they have a louder voice." she tilted back her crown and gave as close an imitation of their crowing sound as she was able.

the wolf cleared her throat and laughed.

"there are many things like these. brother deer. caribou sister. aunt elk. she has great antlers. stay back from her hooves."

they moved on. she crouched in high cool grass and motioned for samani to look ahead to the proud silhouette which traveled just ahead of them: a stag.

Samani could not help but to smile at her mother’s caribou call. She lifted her head, considering making an attempt for herself. When her cheeks burned, she opted against it. Instead, the moon child waved her tail. 

They moved ahead. Samani admired the way her mother could follow their targeted scent. Kukutux, even pregnant, was an impressive and beautiful sight. 

When the figure of the stag came into view, Samani stopped. The deer had a set of antlers that stood impressively upon his head. The girl sniffed at the tracks he had left. Her gaze shifted toward her mother with excitement. 

Mighty… she whispered softly.

samani was reverent. kukutux thought this was a very good thing. it showed her daughter's readiness to learn from those around her, including the spirits which walked the spine and the mountain.

"he is very strong. do you see the sharp spears he carries upon his head? he will use them to fight other men so that he will have many, many wives this year." 

she laughed softly, thinking of the ribald working-songs she had sung with the women upon her island.

The stag was beautiful. He stood with a proud set of antlers – a crown of spears that rose atop his head – and strode forward on lean muscled legs. Samani was mesmerized by the sight of him. Only one ear swung to catch the words that her mother offered.

When Kukutux laughed, Samani glanced toward her with wide eyes. She smiled tentatively. The moon child could not help but wonder what it would be like to walk with the hooves of the deer, to know their ways and speak their tongue. She wondered what their families were like, if their children were like her. A strange welling filled her. Samani did not feel well when faced with the idea that she must kill these creatures to live.

Why do we hunt, mama?

"a wolf must eat meat to live. we kill them. we offer thanks to their spirit. sedna takes them to her home beyond the dancing lights, until the spirit is ready to be born as a fawn again. it is a great circle. like the inside of your eye, or the mountains around our village."

death was only part of a circular pattern that had lived long before the wolf and would live long after.

kukutux looked softly at her sea wandering child.

A great circle, she thought with a pensive expression. 

Some peace was found in the idea of brother deer journeying to the dancing lights. Just as the deer ate the grass, the wolf must eat to live. They all had their paths upon the land, all of them a journey to complete. Samani felt that she understood much better. She was grateful for the lesson her mother had shown her. 

How did you learn so much, mom? Samani asked quietly. As the moon child grew, she was starting to understand Kukutux’s strength in all things. It was not a surprise that so many sought Moonglow. Her belly filled with pride.

"i listened with all of my ears when i was a child. my mother was moonwoman first, and many came to our ulaq for advice or for medicine — or for the women's magick. she spoke in stories to those who came, and the girls who also asked her for teaching."

"it is those old stories which bring to our minds much knowledge." she smiled.

"it is the words i will give to you and your sisters."

Is it okay if I make us another? ;w;

Samani had grown to learn that listening was a powerful tool. Her ears were trained to any who would speak with her, hoping that she would learn from them and could use that knowledge to further her life and her skills. There were many things that required practice, effort, and time. The moon child would learn how to build patience alongside her desire to know more.

I will listen. I will learn from you, mama.

Samani stepped toward her mother and nudged beneath her chin with a small kiss. She was so happy that she had been given her family, so grateful for the chances that she had experienced in her short life. Anything that Kukutux might share with her would not go unnoticed. Samani would lock it away like a treasure.

not at all! i can fade this <3

kukutux kissed the top of samani's head. "you are a good daughter."

her smile was golden.

"you listen now. i will tell you the story of grandmother birch and how she sang down the lightning woman from the skies. you see, grandmother birch is very brave. that is why she wears the scars of white."

on she went, mother and daughter — kukutux sharing the old tales handed down in generations ancient.