Gilded Bay of all the things we've missed

@Samani and Aiolos journey to the coast!

 

Much time had passed since Aiolos had spoken to his sea-side girl of the ocean. The once islander knew that Samani was ready. In another moon she would be a yearling and her youngest siblings were on their fourth. Aiolos did not need to help watch the latest litter too closely now. He felt confident that it would be safe to go on this little outing with his eldest. 

Come Samani, today we visit Sea. Aiolos loud-whispers early to Samani, an excitement shown by his smile and waving of his tail. It was early morning, he had awoken before even the sun. They had the whole day before them.

Samani did not need any further persuasion from her father. She had counted down the days in wait. Thoughts and dreams of the ocean had filled her head. She recalled the short visit they had made before. It seemed so long ago. The moon child wished to see it again, with fresh eyes. 

Springing after him, Samani found a spot beside her father and offered him a thin smile. It was not lacking in warmth. The young woman planned to remember their journey to the sea in hopes that she might go there with Rodyn. She had grown fond of him in their talks together. She believed he was a good man, a handsome man, and she wished to take him to where the great waters were. 

What will we see first? Samani asked of her father, nudging at his shoulder lovingly.

Samani was such a beautiful young girl; colored in rosy and peach hues with vibrant green eyes as her mother before her. Aiolos wondered how well Kausiut had grown and how she was enjoying life with Kukutux seal hunter relatives. Living on the coast, hunting seal and walrus, it was something Aiolos had not done in quite a long time and hoped Siut had been enjoying it as much as he once had. 

The Stavanger Bay is where we had visited before. It is the quickest path to the coast. Go to the fields directly north of home between the two forests. Follow these open lands until you reach the sands. Today, we go somewhere else. 

He speaks this as he trots along, leading her through the Silverlight Terrace. The Stavanger was his favorite place on the coast. With tide pools, rocky cliffs for great views and a forestry of rivers, lake and waterfalls. It had the beauty of the world all in one. It was no wonder so many had tried to claim it for themselves. None in the years had been successful. 

We go to the Gilded Bay this time. Race me to the Deepwood? He would leave her little room for response, as he playful tugs at his daughter's scruff and bolts towards the treeline. 

Samani missed her sister a great deal of the time. She had grown used to the way Kausiut was and had found comfort in her company. She had loved her patiently, wholly, and there was not a day that passed when the image of her sister did not pass through her mind. The moon child hoped that she was well. She hoped that she was proving herself to be a wonder, for that was what Kausiut was.

Ears were drawn to a point atop her head. Her father said that they had visited a different part of the ocean on their last trip and that they would be seeing something new today. Samani smiled, eager to see the world as he saw it and to learn from him about his favorite places.

At the talk of a race, the peachy girl barked sharply in agreement. She did not need to be persuaded. The girl began to bound in the direction of the wood. A laugh formed on her lips. She felt at peace when her legs were stretched out and the ground passed swiftly beneath her.

Aiolos daughter was young and slim and filled with energy. She had the speed of her mother that which Aiolos could never match. Aiolos was a large wolf, but not overly so massive in bulk with a stockiness. His stamina was most impressive but in short bursts like this, it was easy for Samani to take the lead. 

When they reached the tree line, the red wolf came to a skidding halt, panting heavily with a mighty large grin. Your legs are growing into your mother's, I see. He states through breaths and a laughter. 

In the deepwood of the Weald, they could not see the light of day so clearly. The deep forest was shrouded, calming and cool. The trees were incredibly tall and their tops tangled upon one another. Light cast down in streaks onto the heavily red and green fern floor. A beautiful forest but too enclosing for his liking. 

This forest arcs around much of the Quarry. The father informed daughter. It's quite a large forest, but the path we are going won't be as far. Have you visited the Neverwinter, yet? Lote and much of her children now resided there. Aiolos would have preferred them to stay Moonglow but these were his own protective and selfish desires. Aiolos wanted all his family close.

Lean and swift the yearling stretched her legs out as far as they would reach in her bounding strides toward the intended target. The rush of running alongside her father was beautiful. The view that they had of the surrounding territories and the rough edges of where land met sea captivated the young woman. She was eager to see all that her dad might show her.

As they drew to a stop, Aiolos offered a compliment. Samani was growing into a shape that matched her mother. This sent a wave of pride through her. She considered it the highest compliment, to be compared to Kukutux.

They trekked further. Aiolos commented on much of the surroundings. Samani watched the territory that they passed through with keen eyes. Her father asked if she had visited Neverwinter. The moon girl glanced toward him and shook her head. No, I do not believe I have. We should visit it while we are here. She would like for him to show her his favorite places.

Aiolos watches his daughter swell with a pride and he too feels this deep in his gut.

They are silent for a time, sniffing and pawing at things along the forest as they moved through it, their pace swift but not too much so not to enjoy themselves. 

Then, they talk of Neverwinter. It is the forest east of this one. Not as thick and smelling of pine needles. It would be good to visit Lote's place again. If we have time on the way back, we will visit. Although honestly, he did not want to be longer then the full day, for fear he may worry Samani's mother. 

Ahead, the other side of the forest opened up. Rocky structures rest at either side. To the left of then, the ending of the western mountain chain and to the right, That is Ocean's Breath Plateau. He spoke with a fondness as they neared it. At the top, you have a great view of not only the coast, but the forests surrounding.

This time spent with her father was needed. She enjoyed the freedom they shared, walking among the trees and smelling the sharpness of the air blown in from the sea.

Aiolos described the forest to the east. She wished to see it, but she understood that they did not have time to visit all the territories near the water. As they walked, Samani listened to her father speak on the plateau. Her eyes searched it curiously. The view that he described would be a beautiful thing to see, or so she imagined.

I like the sea, she shared after a patch of quiet. The girl’s lips were curved in a soft smile. Jade eyes scanned the trees and the wild beyond them. I wish we could visit more often. Or that they had a place to live by the water. She wondered why her father had left the ocean, or how he could remain landlocked in their home.

As they moved, they made a path around the foothills of the plateau. Here the trees were short and thick and bushes dotted the lands around. As they continued on they were along the edges of where the plateau met the plains to the east. The lands here were open, the clusters of bunchgrass moving like waves, the sea breeze moving towards them. 

Aiolos pauses, taking a deep breath of it. I feel the same. I miss living near the coast very much... He speaks, voice trailing. But my home will always be with my family. He ensures as he turns an eye to her, looking from the corner of his gaze. With you and your siblings. With your mother. He had made that sacrifice and he did not regret it.

The girl nodded her head when her father spoke. She understood the importance of family. She believed that it was a bond so sacred, nothing should break it. The moon girl thought of her mother with love in her heart. It was Kukutux who had made them so strong, so connected. The sun man had joined her, in this. Samani believed that her parents were very special.

But she thought of her future often. In the back of her mind, she had imagined forming a home for herself. A place where she could build a family like the one in Moonglow. It was difficult for her to think about. The sense of adventure that had built inside her was urging her to go- to seek that goal. The love she felt for her family was what kept her grounded.

Perhaps the future would shine favorably on her daydreams.

Do you think that I could be a leader? Like mom? Samani asked of her father. She could not meet his gaze. The moment felt vulnerable. She wondered what he thought of such things.

Aiolos smiles fondly to his rosen daughter. Kukutux was the very heart of their home, binding together. Aiolos place was at her side, a strong figure to be there for her whenever she so needed. Aiolos had never particularly been the voice of the pack, as Kukutux was now, as Huā was when Aiolos led at her side. The red wolf was far more quiet, reserved. 

I think that if it is something you truly want and you work hard at it, then you could be. Nothing worth having comes easy. He speaks this lesson as he looks to her at his side. But even a great leader cannot be successful without its members. That's what makes a pack. They are the body and you are its head. 

Aiolos takes a deep breath then, thinking a moment and a smirk begins to form on his creamy lips, now beginning to sprout silvered hairs of age. I just hope that if you do, you will settle some place close. Like Sialuk, on the Moonspear.