Hoshor Plains up popped paleowolf

Dispersed, Moon Runner ran alone.

Her journey followed the path of prey. The herds moved to the sheltered lowlands as the taiga grew cold.

It was strange to be without her family, but it was not a choice Moon Runner regret.

She came upon a field of flowing grass. Birdscent was strong here. A covey of partridge, perhaps?

As she distanced herself from the lake and the strange, riddle-speaking creature, Sialuk felt peace return to her spirit. Her thoughts went back to the winter, to springtime, to the ebb and flow of the seasons, of family, of lovers. All but one of her children had departed village Moonspear. She did not fault them or have bad feelings toward them because of it, though her heart did yearn to bring them home. Anaa still lived within the spine, and she had many siblings nearby. Perhaps it was her lesson in the coming months to become content with herself alone. The thought was not a pleasant one, not right now, but the sage suspected it was what her spirit needed. A time to focus inward, rather than pouring her love and energy into others.

She had begun making her way back westward, through a large, grassy plain, when she spotted a white figure ahead. Thinking of the white woman seeking her sister, Sialuk started toward them, wondering if this was the sister she sought. Even if it was not, perhaps this wolf could be of help in other ways, even if it was only temporary company. Sialuk's tail waved gently behind as she approached with a friendly smile.

This woman greets you, she said, trying to pick out any features that might match this woman to the stranger's sister.

Another thread of scent wove itself into the patchwork blanket of the wind.

Moon Runner’s ears perked up, curious to know who else wandered these vast plains. A packwolf? A dispersal?

The odor was female and it was not long before the yearling spotted her among the tall grass.

She was similarly pale, mature and motherly. Moon Runner’s spirit couldn’t help but feel love as she remembered and missed Proud Mother.

Moon Runner loped towards her, equally amiable. Her body bent into a curve as she approached on the bias, as if asking for permission to share scent.

Her bright orange eyes reminded Sialuk of the sunset on a hot summer day. The younger, slimmer wolf did not speak. Sialuk was reminded of Towhee's daughter, the one who had been her double in all but age. Towhee Jr. had never spoken, though she was fluent in ptero. Sialuk had never truly mastered the language, though she had picked up on a few things during the stay of several Redhawks over the span of leading Moonspear.

-Hello,- she signed, her gestures slow and clunky, but nevertheless what the Redhawks had taught her. -You talk ptero?- she asked, fumbling the grammar immediately. This was not one of the Redhawk kin that she knew, but Sialuk was aware their lines ran rampant in the wilds.

Moon Runner’s stopped short when the female began to make odd movements, the cadence of which she had never seen before.

Her ears rotated and a quick lick of her lips telegraphed her uncertainty.

I only speak the ancient way, her spirit said.

The younger one did not respond in kind, and Sialuk furrowed her brow. If not the language that Towhee and her kin spoke, and not that of the common tongue or the sunshine people, what was there? Expressions, yes, and body language, though Sialuk had found that could only communicate so much. Perhaps this woman's people had never given her the gift of true language. It saddened Sialuk to think that one could be devoid of such a beautiful thing. Perhaps it was a way of suppressing their people.

Sialuk gave a sad, sympathetic look and shook her head. She turned to leave, curious if the illiterate wolf would follow or stay behind.

Moon Runner ducked her head like a suspicious owlet. No more forward motion was made and the other female turned to leave.

Moon Runner took this as a sign that the other wolf simply did not wish to interact. And so, Moon Runner pivoted towards another direction and loped away.