Ouroboros Spine shine, shine, shine

For @Arrluk & @Ajei! Vague about where they are. Feel free to pick a location.

It was the next evening when he sought out the leaders of the pack, hoping to find them together for this discussion. Neither of them were the parent of the prospective bride in question, so he did not bring a gift — and so he was free to give a low howl as he moved toward the part of the village where he expected to find them.

Arrluk? Ajei? May I speak to you?

It was not a loud or urgent sound. Valiant did not want to alarm anyone, and he hoped to keep the conversation private — at least initially.

A place near the lakebed he rested. A place where his mother would clean skins in the water and pick fat off them with her small front teeth until her gums grew sore. Ajei too would work on these things as children gathered at Arrluk's heels. It would soon be time to corral them to the ulaq for the night. 

Arrluk perks to attention at the call of Valiant, woofing then into the woodland to draw him into their direction and would see him soon then making way forwards. Evening Valiant. A brother-in-law, despite the time stretched since Vairë's absense.

A shift of her body, moving tired muscles from working at pelts for the day. Leavings of teh rawhide in her own teeth. But she stopped her work, when a small call was sent for them. Ajei leaned gently against Arrluk's side for a moment. Just letting him know she was near, then she settled nearby and waited for the male who had called them to arrive. 

Hello Valiant. She chirruped behind her husband. Green eyes seeking and questioning.

Valiant found them beside the lake, looking at peace in a way that struck him, suddenly, and stuck deep in his throat. Sorrow was still heavy on the land, and loneliness, too, but these two had found love in each other. Had forged it, had nurtured it. They still lived here in their home, though it felt bigger and emptier than it used to.

He wondered if he was bringing them something unpleasant. He'd wondered quite a bit about what he was doing, and how he ought to present himself.

"Evening Ajei, Arrluk," he said as he drew near. He settled, respectfully, and gathered his thoughts about him once more. He couldn't help but reflect on a previous conversation, had with just Aiolos, about a similar topic.

"I've... I've been speaking with Raindrop," he said, looking between them both. "And if her daughters approve, and if you'll approve — I want to marry her, and she wants to marry me."

He looked at Arrluk in particular.

"I hope you know that I love your sister, and that I always will," he told him, swallowing another lump that grew in his throat. "And if this breaks something between us — if you can't give me your blessing as brothers — then I don't need it. I don't need any of it, I mean. Things can go on as they have."

He left it now in their paws.

Ajei leaned to him a moment. Valiant spoke with the name of Raindrop on his tongue and the Waterman smiles. This is wonderful news! He speaks with the happy air of his mother, who felt overjoyed with news of a match made. So much so she had become Matchmaker herself. 

Eyes would then soften at the mention of his elder sister, his smile softer now, sympathetic. Many times men had left to abandoned new wives and new pups after building their ulaq and fulfilling their brideprice. Short-lived loves. Aiolos had been a man filled with much bitterness with this. Yet Arrluk had come to understand it that woman too had left, be it of their own accord or not fault of their own. No - no, of course, as brothers. 

Sistraa Callyope had left Sólhárr. Sistraa Vaire had left Valiant. Samani, Ariadne... of no fault of their own, had left them all. These wilds were so very quiet now, Arrluk could only be left with a hope that maybe, in lands and worlds beyond, they all had come together somewhere else. Even if that somewhere else was far from him. Ajei was not a daughter or granddaughter of Kukutux. Arrluk was the youngest son. Neither of them had been meant to lead in the Moonwoman and Sunman's place, yet here they stood. 

And there Valiant stood, with words that would help bring the happiness into the spirit of the pack again. Many times he had thought it would be Vairë and Valiant leading Moonglow. It would not be right to live your life without this love, if love is found. I am happy you have found someone. To fill the void his sister had left.

After Arrluk had spoken, Valiant was very quiet. He didn't know now why he'd feared any other answer. He saw them just as they were, and it was a beautiful thing. They'd all of them been left behind, and Arrluk felt it just as keenly as Valiant — yet he'd carried on with peace and dignity where Valiant had often felt his own lack.

"Thank you," he said, still very quiet. He looked to Ajei as well. "Thank you both."

For stepping up when they had, young and newly wed as they were. For being beacons of light and hope and comfort to them all. And, yes, for this as well.

"I hope our children will grow together — for many years to come," he told them, a warm smile beginning to grow on his face. A happy one, but a heavy one, too. They had all lost so much... It was still hard to think about moving on without those they loved.

But Arrluk was right. He had found love, and he could not waste it.

There was a quietness there, left for Vaire. Left for Moonwoman and Sunman, for Shikoba and for Galana, so many gone it was horrible to even say allowed that Arrluk could barely remember the name and faces of every single one which had been torn from their lives. Still, new life came and pushed on. 

Another smile, weak. Arrluk wondered how many years he would have with Valiant. How many more would he have with Rodyn? The remaining figureheads of a generation fading away. 

Go then to her and be united. We will keep watch if you decide to away for a time and prepare a gift for your return. Arrluk and Ajei had spent some time away, a week or so in the forested cove to the north. Valiant and Raindrop needed this peace for themselves, to become as one.

Ajei pressed herself to her husband's side when she felt the silence. She would not boast to know the inner workings of his mind. That was an injustice. But ahe could tell usually when he was hurting or melancholy. And she knew probably much like her. This felt bittersweet to him as well.


I wish you many blessings. She looked to valiant then with a small smile.

As kind as they had been, and as much as Valiant wanted this — he, too, could not help but feel that lancing pain of loss. The peaceful valley felt unnaturally still, terribly quiet achingly empty. But that only made love all the more important.

There should be more than two children at play.

"I will," he said to Arrluk. And to Ajei, "And to you as well."

There seemed to be nothing else to say, after that. He inclined his head to the two young leaders and turned to depart.