Redsand Canyon i was walking through icy streams

Nanuq's blurry blue eyes followed the rise and fall of a leaf caught in a dust devil outside the den. The air that made its way inside was hot and carried the smell of sunbaked stone, hardy foliage and dusty water. He sampled them with small flares of his nostrils, but nothing caught his interest.

He was situated in the shade and well away from the door, lying flat and stretched out on the warm floor. His forelegs were splayed out in front of him and his thin tail was draped over his left hindleg. He could not hear the way the wind whistled through the canyon, but saw it in the erratic motion of the leaf, remarkable only for how it danced above the ground.

Seized by a moment of inspiration, Nanuq struggled to his feet with a few wobbly false starts. Once he was standing, he didn't know what to do next, and soon realized it took more effort than he was willing to expend to stay on his paws. With a sigh, he flopped back onto his belly and resumed his lazy observations.

Before Aquene's pregnancy, it was rare that Kallik returned to the den before nightfall. Between training and patrolling, his days had been mostly filled, and they still were. But he had made time to check on Aquene and bring her food while she was pregnant, and so he was sure to make that same time now. He knew there would likely be some time between now and when his family was moved to the vale that he would have to be away from them, so he tried to steal as much time with them as possible.

He brought his wife a rabbit today, and he deposited it on the floor where she slept with Siku. He grew concerned when Nanuq wasn't snuggled up with his mom and brother. He quickly searched the rest of the den with his gaze and was relieved to find that his son was still in the den. Kallik wondered why he was off by himself. He trotted over to the pup and nudged his tiny shoulder with his nose before licking the top of his pale head. 

Kallik plopped down beside the twin and licked the top of his head again. He probably shouldn't disturb him while he slept, but he could never help kissing them when they were in his vicinity.

Nanuq might have laid there exactly like that for the rest of the day, or at least until mother collected him for feeding time, if Kallik wasn't there. No one would know if he was awake or asleep unless they dropped their heads down to peer into his eyes, and that was kind of how Nanuq liked it. The less he had to do, the better the day.

He reacted to his father, though, with a slow and sleepy turning of his head in the soldier's direction. His ears flopped at the sides of his head, lifting momentarily as a reflex rather than a reaction. If he really strained, he might be able to make out the hint of a whisper of sound, but it would be days before it was loud enough to notice, and longer still before his hearing reached max strength.

Nanuq shifted slowly to his slide, then completed the roll so that he was belly-up, tucking his paws against his chest and staring with half-lidded eyes up at his father's grey chin. His tongue flashed pink against his lips in a quick, interested lick of his little chops.

Nanuq stirred and turned his head, and Kallik felt guilty for waking him. He watched protectively as his son shuffled closer, holding still so he didn't accidentally interrupt him. 

He was in awe of the innocence that radiated from Nanuq as he rolled over to expose his fat, white belly. He met his son's gaze, though he wasn't sure how much the little guy could actually see or understand. Kallik was not a very soft man, not really, but he couldn't deny how adorable his son was rolled over on his back the way he was. He couldn't resist touching his nose to his son's stomach and nuzzling it gently. He loved the way they smelled—like himself and Aquene, and a bit of their own scent. He could pick it out anywhere. 

Kallik shifted a little so that Nanuq was held between his front legs. Then he licked from belly to chest, moving over the curled front legs to kiss his son's face. He would repeat the move a few times, unless Nanuq acted like he was uncomfortable.

Nanuq's striking resemblance to a lazy house cat didn't end at his preference for basking in sunbeams, his lean body, or his mercurial whims. There was an inherent trust in presenting one's belly and a particular etiquette for handling such a special display which didn't usually include nuzzling into it.

No one could blame Kallik for doing it. Who can resist petting a fluffy white belly?

The moment Kallik's cold nose touched his puppy pudge, Nanuq wrapped his forelegs around his father's muzzle with surprising strength for such a tiny thing. His jaws parted snake-like and closed on the wet leather of Kallik's nose with conviction. His milk teeth weren't quite erupted yet, but here and there a tiny point had emerged.

Tiny points that Kallik might feel more acutely than the gnashing of his son's gums on his nose.

His eyes had closed as he drank in his son's scent and warmth. He was content, which was not something he felt often. But here, with his wife and sons tucked away safely, it was easy to feel that way. 

His eyes flicked open suddenly. Nanuq seemed to be very offended by his nuzzling into his stomach, something Kallik found funny and adorable. The tiny paws closed around his muzzle and little teeth sank into his nose, making his eyes water a bit. He would only chuckle at first before opening his own jaws and gently mouthing his son in response.

Here was Nanuq's energy, often hidden away behind the lazy droop of his shoulders or the seemingly unmotivated narrowing of his eyes. Here was his potential, the strength bound within him, focused now on assaulting his father's nose with all his might.

Until Kallik retaliated. It was playful and harmless retaliation, but Nanuq knew by instinct he could not win in a fight with his father, even if Kallik only used 5% of his strength and effort. Not like this, not on his back with mostly gums and harmless soft paws to fight with. Kallik's mouthing sent warm breath washing over his son, who in response went completely still.

His jaws were still wrapped around the tip of Kallik's nose, but no longer gnashing. His legs were still wrapped around the muzzle, but a whisper of wind would dislodge him. Nanuq no longer fought. Instead, he froze in place, saliva gathering on his tongue and dripping toward his father's nostril.

They played for some time longer, but soon Nanuq was ready for a nap, which he gladly took.