Moonspear the pack

Open to two others! Outside the den, so anybody is welcome. Set for June 24th.

Outside was, officially, the best thing ever. It wasn't nearly as dark as the inside of the den, and Sialuk was amazed at all the smells and sights out here. She wasn't brave enough to go too far, only a few paces away from the safety of the only home she could remember, but she could already feel the pull of what was out there. When she stepped on a blade of grass, it tickled her feet, and she pulled her three-toed paw close to her chest, sniffing at the green blade.

Satisfied that it was safe, she planted her foot back on it, watching as it squished back down to the ground. When she pulled her foot up again, it sprung back up, causing her to giggle with delight.

can be a cameo!

in the end, the green-draped qualupilik had taken one sacrifice.

kukutux looked toward sialuk, springjade gaze falling at once to the tiny outstretched paw with its missing digit. the taken toe, the fever that had followed. her daughter already carried a powerful totem, though the snow-duck worried at the implications for the future.

in this moment, however, the moondrop turned back to where she had lain parts of fish upon a flat rock in the clearing, where the sun was greatest. with luck, the meat would dry, first food for the caches that she intended to spend the summer filling.

Noise distracted her, and Sialuk forgot about the blade of grass as quickly as she had discovered it. She whirled around to see her mother doing something with a large rock nearby, and she stumbled. With no regard for her mother's hard work and intentions, Sialuk scrambled onto the rock and attempted to take one of the pieces of fish. If she succeeded, she'd likely gnaw on it for only a few seconds before growing bored and moving on to something else. But this was surely a sign of who she was to become.

kukutux had nosed the last piece as flat as she was able, whirling in a pale, surprised arc. "pitsialaurisi, sialuk," the young mother sighed, though she was not dispirited. removing the briefly-chewed strip of fish from her daughter, the duck lay it back where it should have been. "you are wild ostrega girl." this was accompanied by a grin to show she meant nothing by it; kukutux nudged sialuk and indicated where she had bitten the fins off the fish and left them in a patch of earth. toys there, and more to explore if the child wished.

Late appearance by Savi. <3

 

Saviguk was a growing young boy. Not just in body, but also in mind. With this change came a newfound sense of curiosity, becoming brighter and brighter each day. His eyes had opened, adjusted to the world around him inside the den. He knew it well. The familiar curvatures of the earthen dark walls, the paler forms of his mother and Sialuk. And the darker visage of his father, when he came to visit. Every smell, every texture.

The outside world, on the other hand, was a completely different story. While Sialuk, the one missing a toe but nothing in spirit, had snuck outside ahead of him, he was too absorbed in his latest little discovery. The tail end of the rabbit skin his dear mama had lined the den with, since their birth. Its downy softness fascinated him, tickling the sensitive nares of his nose that made him giggle, despite a few mighty sneezes. It had all of their scents on it, something he took comfort in. And the thin hide felt good on his tender gums, though with needle like teeth coming through, it wouldn't stay intact for long. 

Mid chew, his dark little ears pricked, hearing his mother’s soft voice from outside. Only then did he realize that Sialuk was not here, prompting a lift of his eyes away from his handy work and towards the light. Oh, now he was interested. Dropping the mouthful of fur, he took a step forward, only to glance back at his item of possession hesitantly. Ultimately the greater temptation of the new and unknown won out, drawing the boy out of the shadows and into the light. Wide eyed, he wasn't prepared for the intensity of the brightness, nor the strange tickle of grass against his tender paw. Reeling back in surprise with eyes scrunched shut, Savi's display was comical as he leapt back like a loaded spring, careening blindly smack down the neatly arranged fish. Whoops, now he might smell funny.

Her mother's attempt to placate her with fins were futile. The flesh of the fish was much more enticing, and once again, Sialuk dove for the pieces lain across the rocks. Now that she was not allowed to have them, they were even more tempting. Just as she had reached the pile, Saviguk landed atop her head. Oh, bugger!

As it happened, Sia's tongue had been out, and when her brother had landed on top of her, he'd snapped her jaws shut. A sharp yelp of pain was followed by the taste of blood in her mouth. While her tongue hadn't been completely severed, it was not a pretty sight. Using her paws, she attempted to rid herself of the pain by pushing on the outsides of her muzzle, all the while whimpering and yelping bloody murder.

sialuk was not easily distracted. kukutux would have laughed, had not saviguk suddenly smashed into his sister with more force than she would have liked. and it came to pass, then, that the sharpness of blood rose on the air. the duck clucked, frowning; she rushed forward and nosed between her fish-scented brood, lapping her tongue across the girl's tiny muzzle in an attempt to soothe her.

saviguk, momentarily, was given a little nudge; she beckoned them both away from the small mess and looked the pair over, worried despite herself, wanting her daughter's saddened cries to cease and happiness be regained again.

Unintentionally of course, he had landed squarely atop Sia's head. Any other time she might have made a game out of it, but not today. The high-pitched yip of pain that escaped her sent alarm bells blaring. Scrambling, he shifted his weight off her. Only then did a new scent greet him. It was strange. Metallic and sharp. Not at all pleasant. It was just...wrong. He traced it to the bright red liquid seeping out of her lips. All of it...the color, the smell and her cries of pain set his hackles on edge.

Pangs of guilt flooded him. This was his fault! He shouldn't have been so careless! Oh there had to be something he could do to make Sia feel better! Whimpering fretfully, ears back and tail tucked, he crept close. Gingerly, Savi draped his upper body over the quaking shoulders of his sister, leaning down to offer brotherly kisses to wipe her tears away. "Si...dun cry, pleaze..."

Her mother, ever the patient and caring one, was quick to come to her aid. Still whimpering, she sniffled and sobbed as her mother attempted to soothe her with a gentle swipe of her tongue. Her brother rushed in, too, mimicking their mother's actions by adding his own soft kisses to the mix. The weight of his body atop her own was a comfort, and although her tongue still throbbed with pain, she did feel a sense of calm start to overtake her.

As her breathing slowed, she wriggled out from underneath Saviguk and licked her lips, leaving a streak of blood around the outside of her lips. It wasn't a pretty sight at all. She looked rather ghoulish this way... not that she could know that.

her son already bore a good heart and gentle mien. reminded of jarilo's usual care, kukutux beamed in spite of the situation as saviguk sought to comfort his sniffling sister with small words, a kind gesture. beneath their attentions sialuk blossomed again; she reappeared bloodstained and shocking for a moment.

"tumgax," the duck murmured. "a little cutting knife." perhaps it was a reflection of what was to come, strength gathering as saviguk grew into his introspection.

I think we can wrap this one up here!

Over the next few days, it would be a little painful to eat and drink, but Sialuk would overcome. There was no doubt that her mother would whip up some special edible to ease the pain as much as she could. The strange sensation of scar tissue on her tongue would remind her of this day for years and years to come, although she would never hold it against her brother. Perhaps if he had done the deed intentionally or mocked her for it, but he had done neither of those things, and she was grateful for his presence.