Ouroboros Spine Ram

Perhaps his brothers or nieces/nephews?

 

Vairë had returned to Moonglow. Along with her three new pups. Last she had lived here, Arrluk and his brothers had yet to be born. Though it was dour circumstances for why she had come, Arrluk was still happy to have her near. Now, she trained with their mother, often near her side as she took to her studies. Studies to become Moonwoman in their mother's place. Arrluk was happy for her, yet it reminded him of their parents aging. 

The youngest of the litter, Arrluk himself, had returned first. Recently now, all the litter of last season to Aiolos' hearth returned. Massaraq came home second. Kassuq as the last son to follow. Then, Galana, almost as though swept away and then magically returning in another breath. She seemed not to remember much and Arrluk wondered what may have transpired that she now had come to forget... 

Now, Ariadne is gone. Creating a village and then abandoning it, much in the same fashion as her mate. Regardless, Arrluk is happy. So many had returned even if it meant sacrificing the leaving of one. 

Arrluk had also been training. Following his father's path silently around the borders of home as they marked them. When not this, he was fishing or following the herds as he practiced to track. Today, as the sun shined down to warm the winter chill in bones, he came with a ram hock in his jaws, keen to present it as a gift to whomever he ran into first.

hope u dont mind me! <3

it was weird, having three boys back that were considered men now. kassuq and massaraq were a bit injured. their coming back had been different than that of arrluk, up ahead of the young woman on her path now.
she found she wasn't sure how to approach him now that he was a man. what if she borked some custom or greeting? 
yet her affection for the boy — man — won out, and she hurried to overtake him. "hey, arrluk," chickadee began. "are you hunting? patrolling? want some company?"

It's been some time, so not at all!

Chickadee was the first to greet him and although he had been hoping to give the ram hock to one of his nieces or nephews, decided some time with his to-be-sister-in-law was just as good. 

Oh, just got back from scouting the mountains where I found this. He says as he settles the partial leg down on the ground. Scavengers had eaten the most of it, though Arrluk had taken what he could while both navigating down the mountain side. 

If Chickadee thought any differently of him, he didn't notice. At least, not at the moment. He had taken note of it from others, including his mom of course and @Ajei. While Arrluk didn't feel any different, he knew deep down something had changed it him. Something when he had eaten the flesh of Akhlut. 

Do you have anything you need help with?

<3

he was different. more settled, perhaps. more — confident. "i was doing literally nothing," chickadee admitted, sniffing politely at his find. and then she did look up at the boy she had helped to raise at the end of his childhood, smiling.
"what's next for you, arrluk?" the moonthorn asked, truly wondering. she knew the moon woman was a matchmaker. maybe he'd be married off or — well. she hoped he wouldn't leave again.

Arrluk smiles softly, a short chuckle at her words. Well, if that's the case... He picks up the hock again, tucking it under some nearby brush for someone to come upon and enjoy. Then, he lifts his head back up high and a wave of his tail. I thought of scouting around the borders... any place you might choose?

"i like to go as high up as i can!" chickadee exclaimed, glancing to the teeth of the spine. "it's cold up there, and still a little snowy. do you want to go?" the young woman exulted, glancing at the boy who had until recently been one of her small charges.
she shook out her ruff and started off around the lake. "so. are you sticking around moonglow?" she asked, prying just a little more.

Chickadee's bursting energy was addicting, causing Arrluk's tail to wave behind him. Sure! He said then as they began off, making way around the great lake.

Honestly Arrluk wasn't much of a mountain climber. He had gone through some of the mountains of home, but not all that high or in places where a worn path wasn't accessible. He had definitely not gone to the High Alter yet, but this was his home and he should know it well. Besides, it wasnt like he was literally living within a big mountain like Moonspear. Just the sight of it alone was quite intimidating. 

I think so. He murmurs at first from her sudden question, but then- I mean, yes. He corrected. When my brothers and I left for our journey, all I wanted to do was come home. Loosing my sisters only made me realize more that I don't want to be off adventuring and miss out on time with my family. Having them die or going missing and not being able to have known them or connect with them as much as he would have liked before they were to the Dancing Lights. Aiolos and Kukutux were always a constant presence and he had grown up with that same drive to be someone others could count on. 

After a moment longer, I think if it's a little overrun here when puppies come, I might live with one of the other villages for a time if they need more able bodies there. Though they were different villages, each one had family in them and it's them which he found home in. 

What about you and Kivaluk? He was First Hunter and she, her first litter. Arrluk thought the best place to be was right here while they gained their footing on new parenthood. His mother would have all the answers...

chickadee grinned at arrluk. "we'll be hoping to overrun the place with puppies," the girl quipped, hoping to lighten the mood a bit after his earlier words. he'd definitely matured. the orca-boy had never been selfish in her memory, but it said a lot about him that he wanted to support others.
privately she wondered if his mother intended to marry him off too, which would be interesting. no doubt kukutux had plans for all of her sons, even if she wasn't privy to them.
"do you think you'll go to moonspear? moontide?" the young gamma frisked higher, kicking snow at arrluk on a chuckling whim. she wasn't much of a climber either, but she was willing to take on most challenges.

I cant wait. Arrluk smiled deeply, his tail waving behind him. I know Kivaluk looks really happy. After his dad going, his brother, his mother... Arrluk didnt know Kivaluk that well to be sharing intimate details but, it was no wonder Kivaluk was eager to start his own family. He wanted to do something right, where his parents had messed up. Make something to be proud of, like (though Arrluk was quite bias) Kukutux and Aiolos had. 

So you'll name one of your pups after me one day, right? Uncle Arrluk. He teased. Chickadee kicked up snow and Arrluk bit at it before it fell to the ground. Then he kicked up snow with his back legs in turn, dashing forward to slowing to run the length of his side on a tree. I think Moonspear first. I've only been there once, know of it less. Which meant it was the family he needed to work on most.

"i've never been! what do you know about it?" chickadee asked, wondering about the mountain claimed by the boy's older sister. she tossed snow at arrluk again, eyes widening with a hoot of laughter as the ground dipped under her own feet, spilling her into a drift.
"maybe i will! maybe i'll just name him uncle, then he has to figure out who he's named after," she laughed, challenging arrluk to a run up the nearest slope.

Well, He began as they kicked up snow along their trail. I know my mom used to live there, before Moonglow. My dad says Moonspear once held a mighty pack of Ostregas. He laughs as the grey and peach girl falls into a snow drift, taking a chance to tug at her tail while she was defenseless. 

Another laugh then, to her words. Ah, poor kid! And he laughed all while while, rushing up the cliffside. Chickadee was far faster then he, something he came to know fairly quickly.

mind if we fade this? trying to update my threadlogs <3

a mighty pack of ostregas? chickadee tried to figure out whether or not she'd ever heard that name before, then decided it didn't much matter. she tried to trip arrluk as she rounded back toward him, showing off a little;
tripped on a root, rolled a bit further down than she had been running. "wow!" she shouted, laughing hard. "that's enough for me, woo, you win, arrluk!"

sounds good!

She almost had him too! He stumbled, but managed to keep from falling over and in the mean time, while Chickadee was trying to trip him she ended up tripping herself. 

Barely. But he would take the win and would male a turn to round back towards the center of home.