Shadowwyn Moor trinaest

they had made their own space within the moor when they had first arrived. this spot had been filled with their pressence. here the scent of both her and @Ridgeback would be thick. she did not hide her hunt for him now. she filled the air with soft sounds meant to bring him to her as she neared their place.

delighted in the news she had for him, breathless from the rush of it all, she allowed herself to crash down into a softer spot among the earth.

It was fortunate for Ice Diver that Ridgeback was sufficiently entertained and distracted by the task of keeping track of the caribou; otherwise, he had the tendency to become an absolute VELCRO dog, and would likely have driven her nuts. It was in his genes, after all- as a wolfdog with Malinois blood. 

Summoned by his chosen partner, he abandoned the task of eyeing the herbivores (he'd noted a few that might make a good target for their next hunt) and sped toward their little nesting place, wasting no time in greeting her with chattering jaws and soft whines. He sensed her good mood and flopped down onto the ground heavily, rolling over onto his back so when he looked at her, it was with a goofy, upside-down smile, tongue nearly draping out over one of his eyes.

he was so very handsome.

this was a fact she came to know each time she gazed upon him. his chatters and whines were met with affectionate grumbles and nipping teeth. she adored his carefree ways, his humor and his brightness. every day she worked to preserve these things. to forge their future.

she knew that his own days did much the same.

my husband, the title was cooed with a more girlish affection that she reserved for only his company. she stretched out a leg to paw at him from her own laid position upon the earth. we are bloodhunter now. a promotion has come to us.

The title of husband had not yet lost its novelty and caused him to gleam like a toddler presented with a toy whenever it was mentioned. He’d never been couth, nor was he very aware of just how childish he could be at times. Obliviousness was bliss. 

He tilted his head when he was given another title. Is that a rank? He asked, privately glad that this new title was, at least, easy to pronounce.

her head attempted a nod before she realized it was not so easy against the ground. yes, she grunted as her tail slapped the earth beneath them.

it means we are trusted. we have become saatsine and it is not overlooked, ridgeback. her paw lingered near him, meant to be a hold. there was more she intended to say in time. yet she wanted him to linger on his own promotion first, to taste the hope and promise in it.

His tail thumps created an odd, syncopated rhythm with hers, his thick, but somewhat shorter tail smacked against the earth at twice the speed. 

She held a paw out, and he lifted one of his own so that he could touch hers with it, grinning. He didn’t realize she had more news. So it still means hunting caribou though, right? He asked, for clarification. There was something ominous about the sound of being “blood hunter” and he wanted to make sure he wasn’t agreeing to take on a position where he might be expected to shed wolf’s blood.

she laughed with warmth to rival the chill of the early winter air. yes! just as chieftain still hunts caribou. he did not only lord over them. the caribou was always theirs to follow, to hunt.

and now she must breathe another title, that might draw heavier questions.

he wants me as war chief, too. he knows we have no wars, but it is good to always be ready. to create strength now.

her warmth still lingered, but her voice had grown softer. her features thoughtful as she looked upon his face. his reaction would carry more weight than any thoughts she held right now.

Hmm, He chuffed, pleased that his job remained the same as always- though it seemed he might have some amount of authority over those who were hunters. He wouldn’t complain; he felt confident leading a hunt, though he preferred to be a follower. Sun Eater’s approval meant a lot to him. 

So it came as no surprise that Ice Diver might be promoted yet again. Truly, he felt she deserved it- she was quicker to learn the language and ways of the Saatsine, and an ideal candidate for a leadership position, if it was one. 

But the topic of war- even if it wasn’t relevant now- gave him reason to pause.

You worked for it, He said, nuzzling her cheek. But I do hope that you never have to do any war planning. I’d like to think we’ll never need a war chief but….I mean, we kind of did grab his son- willingly- and bring him back with us without his pack knowing, so… His own children had gone missing, and he had searched- if he ever found out his kids had been taken, he would have gone for blood. I guess, his battles are our battles, now.

everything he said, truth. for a moment she only gazed at him and wondered. did he dream of such high points in a clan? he was bloodhunter, she told herself, and that was mighty fine. a good title for a good man.

her man.

she wiggled her way into his side and did not seek his face now. she listened to his breathing, felt his muscles.

would it bring you unease if i stood as war chief beneath our chieftain? she had earned it. sun eater had seen it in her. but would ridgeback come to resent the position when it stole her away for planning or movement? when her days were spent running and learning along sun eater for longer hours?

Her wriggling prompted a feminine giggle from him, but she crept closer to a man who was very willing to squeeze her tight, and smile even though his mind was distracted with thoughts of a possible war. In his arms, he held the war chief, and as she warmed in his embrace, he realized that it might not be so bad, being married to the one who might make decisions about such things. She might be the one who could spare them from war's tragedy, after all, especially if it threatened the ones she loved. 

Nope, he said, lifting his paw to trace lines from the peak of her forehead and back between her ears, creating little furrows in her fur. Distracted for a moment, he traced the lines again, whispering Brain massage into her ear. Another giggle, and then he cleared his throat. No, I think you'd be good at it. Are you concerned about having that job? He asked.

she was not sure why she held her breath for a moment, why she had thought he might ever deny her this. wasn't he the man who had been so strategic as to wed them? yet she knew their marriage was anything but strategic now. that she adored him in full, that she missed him when they parted and had excitement that never faltered when they reunited.

his little brain massage broke her deep thoughts. enough that she allowed herself some near-breathless laughter into his fur. her tail waved somewhere behind her.

no. i want this. very much. she told him now so that he would know the truth. that she desired to be war chief, that she craved this new life.

her appreciation for him had settled warmly in her chest. she realized quietly that everything he had done for her, had allowed her to chase and his steadfast devotion had rooted a feeling within her.

it hovered in her mind, on the tip of her tongue. she let it rest there and enjoyed the warmth. sheepishly buried her face into his chest.

Even a wolf with 'Ice' in their name would have to melt, when given a brain massage. She seemed relieved, and he wondered why she might have been apprehensive about his reaction. Being the type who couldn't dwell for long on any given thought, he didn't think too hard about it- and when she told him how eager she was to take the position, he immediately picked up on her mood, and gave her a squeeze. 

Then that makes two of us, he reassured her. You're good at being in charge, He added, setting his chin at her forehead then, and straightening the fur that his claws had mussed up. You can boss me around any day, He intoned warmly.