Duskfire Glacier You're a natural

@Siarut @Calloon

She crossed the border of her territory with the svelte male in tow, paws finding ice again and reveling in the feeling. Ever since claiming the glacier, Taki felt out of place when she left to roam the surrounding territories. Her love of her new home and her love of exploring were constantly at odds, and she struggled to find a balance at times. 

Stopping just inside the borders, Taki leaned her head back and howled a summons for her older brother to come meet their new pack member. When she brought her muzzle back down, her eyes found the soft grey male and she gave him a nod of encouragement as they waited for Sia to make his appearance.

The ghostly man followed the snowy female idly, stopping just before he stepped on the ice. He came from lands where it was warm and had only spend one half of the winter in the Teekons if he recalled correctly. The point was that he was not sure about the frozen water, but seeing the female walk upon it so effortlessly he supposed it was safe enough to traverse.

But Calloon wasn't the most graceful of ghosts. After just two steps did he let himself become too confident in his abbilities and The Wise Ones punished him by letting him land belly-first on the cold underground as his paws slid away from under him. If and when the female would look around to check on him, he would smile to excuse himself before getting back up again to join her again and wait for her co-leader.

She had barely finished her nod when the slender male slipped and fell on the ice. She looked at him, concern briefly gracing her normally stoic features, but decided to let him figure it out. He would have to learn to get around on the ice if he wanted to live here. If she had fallen in front of a potential leader, she certainly wouldn't want any help getting up, so she didn't move to help him. She did, however, finally speak to ask, Okay over there? her tone half teasing and half serious. He seemed okay, but she wanted to lighten the mood a little in case he felt embarrassed after his moment of clumsiness. 

She scanned the horizon for any sign of her brother's approaching form, but still did not see anything. She wondered what was taking him so long. He was just as protective and territorial as she was and would normally be quick to meet any newcomers to the territory. Maybe he was patrolling the opposite borders or something, she deduced, as her future packmate came to stand beside her, seeming to have figured out how to move on the ice.

I AM SO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Missing the man's learning experience Siarut was slow to reply to his sister's call. Having been in the Ice Grotto Siarut had only heard the faintest nose, and it had taken him sometime to navigate out without slipping or injuring himself. He could tell by the position of the sun that Summer was almost over, and Fall would be upon them soon.

As he found his beloved sister, he chuffed to her and found their newest recruit standing unsteadily by her side. "Takiyok." He greeted further once he was close. "Who is this?" He preferred to speak their own tongue, even though they were both fluent in the common language sometimes it was better to keep others in the dark. Especially considering he wasn't sure who this stranger was.

The doofus nodded, ears following the curve of his head as they slid down in embarrassment. He wasn't very familiar with the frozen liquid, but once he was moving and his nails ticked on the hard and slippery surface he found it easier to walk upon than when he had made his first few steps.

When the snowy female's brother showed up, he bowed even though he did not understand the words being spoken. Not that language barriers meant much to the mute anymore; he understood more than he let on and hopefully other people did the same with him every now and then. His flexibel frame unfolded from the bowed stance shortly thereafter, allowing the others to address him without feeling awkward.

She greeted Sia with a bow of her head and a, Brother. When he inquired about the wolf she had brought back with her, she answered, I ran into him while I was out patrolling the territory that shares our northern border. He showed interest in joining the pack. She used common for her explanation. It was information he already knew, and she didn't see a reason to be cryptic. She turned to the light grey male then. This is-- she paused mid sentence when she realized she had no idea what his name was. She looked between the two a couple times before continuing, I actually have no idea what his name is. I don't think he can talk, she added, thinking back over their meeting and deciding that it definitely seemed like he couldn't speak. She gave a small shrug and looked to her brother to see what else he wanted to say. 

She left out the confusing draw she had for the strange male. Maybe she felt bad for him? She wasn't sure; she hadn't been able to figure it all out yet. She didn't usually feel bad for strangers that she had no attachment to, so she was inclined to believe that probably wasn't the case. Regardless, if Sia had no issue with his joining the pack, she would have plenty of time to figure it out.

Tilting his head at her conclusion, Siarut looked back to the male. Curious. "Is it true? Are you...." He tried to think of the word, it wasn't a word that came up in conversation much and as such Siarut wasn't sure if he had even learned the common equivalent. Looking at Takiyok and giving her a quizical look, "Nipakittuk?" He wasn't sure that was the right translation, but he went with it anyway. "Quiet?" Siarut asked the man.

He would get to the joining part later, once his curiosity was squashed.

Only now did they speak words he understood. Not that it helped him much. Everything talked about had already happened, his own golden ringed eyes bearing witness to the whole ordeal from moments ago. It was then that his silence was questioned. This was often the case; others did not often notice his unusual silence until he simply could not answer something as simple as his own name.

When also her brother asked about it, he had no other choice but to show the truth. He nodded as his grey and gold eyes averted, noting small scratches on the icy surface they stood on. He opened his mouth to show all that was left of what once was his tongue, the stump helplessly wiggling in the back of his throat.

Sia looked to her for reassurance that his definition was correct, and she gave a small shrug; it seemed like a good enough term for it, and she couldn't think of another way to put it. She watched as her older brother turned to the recruit and asked him if he was 'quiet.' When the male opened his mouth to show them the stump of a tongue the resided there, Taki couldn't keep the surprise from her face. She had many questions that she realized he probably couldn't answer and possibly wouldn't want to even if he was able. Still, she released a stunned, How? unable to keep herself from seeking further explanation about his missing tongue.

His sister was as blunt as ever, as the stub waggled before the pair of white wolves. Siarut was shocked, as well but he hid it better. Takiyok was always more eccentric. The polar bear assumed that this man couldn't tell use how it happened, although it was a story that he wished he could learn. Although the stranger didn't appear to be overly aggressive or abrasive so Sia was confident in admitting him to the pack. If Takiyok thought he was good enough Siarut wasn't going to be one to object.

He would wait to see what the man had to .... say? Before he voiced his opinion. Siarut was going to keep an eye on the man though, you never know why he might have been maimed. Maybe it was a savage act of a terrible person. Or just the strict punishment of a sever crime. Siarut was a little apprehensive of the man, now that it appeared his tongue had been ripped out. But there was no basis for any of these thoughts so Siarut decided observation was the key.

The surprise he had become used to. He closed his mouth shortly after, shaking his head slowly - brows hanging sadly and tail a limp piece of his body now. He didn't like sharing bad news. He didn't like showing others what had been done to him due to a mindless war between the two tribes from the place he had come from. If anything, he would rather have his muteness be ignored. Be accepted as he was.

He would understand if the pair found him less useful without the ability to speak, yet still looked hopeful to the pair of white siblings in case he was enough of an asset to consider having him join them.

He closed his mouth and shook his head, his body language somewhat dejected. Taki cleared her throat. Right, well, you don't really need to talk to hunt or fight or look at the stars, or whatever, so it doesn't really change things, she said candidly. Whatever happened to cause him to lose his tongue, the malguk could tell it was unpleasant, and she figured he wouldn't want to dwell on it. She looked to Sia then, wondering if he had anything to add. She assumed he wouldn't care that the male couldn't speak, so it didn't even cross her mind to check whether or not it changed his mind about letting him in the pack.

           

 
He frowned at the man's body language, feeling sorry for him. They would have to come up with a way to communicate. Despite himself Siarut found the idea exciting, his love for languages could be but to good use.

Shaking his head at his blunt sister, he rolled his eyes, but agreed. "That is true Takiyok." Nodding to show he agreed, despite the insensitivity of the statement, he went on. "I am Siarut." With this in mind he realized they could just refer to the him as well him. Tilting his head as he thought, "We will have to think of a name for you. If you don't mind." It would take much to long to try and guess his current name, perhaps until they could communicate better he could use a nickname. "What do you think of Nipa? Or...." He thought pensively, trying to think of another name.
 

 

His golden ringed eyes lit up as the snowy female announced that his muteness did not change things after all. Sure, it made it a little bit more awkward to hold a conversation with him, of one could call it that, but he sure as hell could hunt. His gaze then landed upon the brother, hoping to also have him approve of the matter; and so he did.

When names were exchanged, he felt a little uneasy. He had become so used to the nicknames Easthollow had provided him with that it was hard to hear yet another one brought to the table. He tilted his head to the side, brows lifted slightly. What does that mean? Nipa. sounded rather foreign.

Nipa the malguk repeated. Like nipakittuk? she asked. She thought it was fitting and was easy enough for everyone to remember. 

Taki turned to her recruit then and saw his questioning look. Maybe he didn't like it? Did you want something different? It means quiet, so it kind of fits, she said with a shrug. Or, it came from the word that means quiet, but it was close enough. She had a feeling anyone that spoke their language would easily put it together. She looked away in thought for a few moments before resting her citrine gaze back on the willowy male. What about Ijuguk, or Iju for short she asked. It means spirit. The color of your fur kind of reminds me of one, she added before giving him an inquiring look.

           

 
Siarut had no doubt that the man might feel uncomfortable about the names they were trying to provide for him. He could imagine receiving a new name in addition to a new home. Not to mention, Sia assumed they came from different backgrounds, making the names themselves odd. He waited to see what the man had to say about Takiyok's offer, they didn't need to solve this puzzle right this minute.


 

Sophy had already called him quiet, and thus hearing it be used again kind of bored him; not that the snowy female and her brother could know. He had been called many names, but usually his inner monologue referred to him as a ghost or wisp. This made the next name they thought of for him much more appealing, he had yet to earn a name as mysterious as Spirit.

He smiled and nodded his head gladly, his tail still low as it shook from side to side to indicate his content with the name they had settled on.

Iju it is, then, Taki replied with a nod. Well, I don't see any other reason to prolong this meeting. Feel free to show yourself around, she stated before pausing, her gaze flicking to Sia before resting back on the svelte male. ...Or, I guess I could give you a tour if you want, the malguk added with a shrug. Tours were her least favorite leadership duty, but she would do it if her new packmate desired it. She waited silently for his answer, ready to take her leave with or without him.