Lake Rodney qirniqtaq ⦿

for @Lilitu!

had she known that apple-eyed, ill-favored wraen whispered her leadership around the edge of the fen, kukutux would not have gone. 

as it were, the snow-wife was made restless by the pending season. the lull in the snow had provided for at last fresh kills, and the woman roamed out farther and farther, heading toward the great expanse of misted water around the edge of the woodland. here she rested, looking back over her scarred shoulder for moonspear's proud head.

INVADES.

It wouldn't hurt to explore a little, Ibis reasoned. So long as she was cautious and they were not gone for long. It helped that there were so many placed Lilitu had never been, as Ibis could play the tour guide and keep her daughter's mind off of her absent sibling, now her absent father.

The lake was immense; Ibis could not remember ever passing by it before and likely had not, so when she saw it, equipped with a thin armor of ice, she was enthralled. She said to her daughter, Come, drink. We can rest here a while before heading home.

With a nudge to her rump, Ibis hurried her along.

It was a large lake. Lilitu would have likely struck out to see it herself, had Ibis not been keeping a 24/7 watch on her. She wasn't stupid; she knew Arielle was gone, even if her mother tried to play it cool. Everything was different without her sister. There weren't any other wolves her age around, so she was surrounded by adults—and apart from Wraen and Maia, they all seemed so boring.

The lake, however, was not boring. She dashed up to the shore, not hesitating to press her paws down and crack the surface, just like Teya had shown her. Look! We can fish, too! she informed her mother (as if Ibis didn't already know). 

She was staring into the cold, murky depths when an approaching wolf caught her eye. The woman was pale, ethereal, elegant, and Lilitu soon completely forgot about fish. She was tempted to meet the stranger halfway, though Ibis would probably freak out or something. Instead, she watched from afar, a smile of greeting on her face, hoping a new friendship could be made today.

and when she glanced forward and took a step or two, it was to pause again. a delicate wraith of rosebark with seaglass eyes was moving toward her, accompanied by a younger vision of darker shades and a tea-hued stare.

it was upon her, this gaze; kukutux did not see it as polite to move off now that she had been seen. "i greet you," she called toward the first of the two strangers, shifting forward only a small distance with a wave of her pale plume to accompany the gesture.

When her daughter rushed to the ice-covered shore line Ibis was taken a bit by surprise but she hurried after the girl, calling out at the first sound of the ice splitting beneath Lilitu's paws, Get off of there! And even before Lilitu could do much, Ibis was firmly grabbing her tail and giving a tug. Ibis was not going to let Lilitu have so much freedom that she might harm herself.

A small, oddly warm voice called from some ways off and briefly distracted Ibis after that. She shot the other woman a hasty look of concern which melted to apology, as Ibis felt embarrassed for her own commanding tone while thinking they were alone.

Hello, Ibis offered, then quickly said to Lilitu, Come, we have a visitor. As if this event had been planned well in advance. Lilitu being a social girl, Ibis hoped the presence of the white-coated woman might inspire her to obedience.

Any good first impression she wanted to make on the beautiful woman was spoiled by Ibis freaking out and grabbing her tail, yelling at her as if she were a small child. MA! Lilitu thundered, yanking her tail from her mother's mouth (that hurt!). She was burning with embarrassed anger as Ibis coaxed them both forward to greet the other wolf.

I know; I saw her, she snapped, bristling. God, why did she have to be treated like a baby? Just because Arielle was gone didn't give her mother the right to be such a bossy. . .bitch.

But she felt bad even thinking the word, and her ears flattened. Lilitu desperately tried to smooth out her scowl into something more welcoming as they approached the stranger, keeping more than a tail-length away from Ibis lest she try and discipline again. Hi, she said, fixing her bright yellow gaze upon the woman.

kukutux blinked as the other she-wolf assured her place as mother with a swift movement. an answering one from the girl, who was nearly grown to height. but it was not her place to comment. with an answering maternal inclination toward thoughts of saviguk, suddenly, kukutux dipped her head politely to them both.

"i am kukutux of moonspear village," the gamma introduced herself. "and i have a daughter who is near to the age of your own," she said to the beautiful woman, though shifted her gaze to the girl nextly. "her name is sialuk."

Ibis huddled close to her daughter until Lilitu made the point of stepping away, and the mother sighed but did not stop her. Better to keep a level head on her shoulders around company. The stranger introduced herself as a resident of Moonspear, sharing her name, which was an odd one.

Daughters are a blessing, Ibis offered lamely, sounding a touch exasperated despite the truth in her statement. Since losing one of her girls she had tightened her hold around her remaining child and it had aged her almost overnight.

We live in the fen, with hopes to claim it by winter's end. Ibis went on to explain, wondering all the while, what brings you down from the mountains?

She looked intrigued at the idea of another girl her age. Maybe, if they were close enough, this Sialuk could become a friend. She certainly was in need of one, at least one that wasn't. . .well, old. 

And then her mother began to speak again, and she rolled her eyes, though keeping her face turned away to avoid retribution. Blessing—ha. Lilitu didn't feel like a blessing. More like a burden. Maybe Ibis was referring to Arielle, who had always been more well-behaved. But the thought of her sister brought to mind something else. . .

Have you seen a brownish girl around my age? Or a big black-furred man with yellow eyes? she asked, turning her gaze back toward Kukutux. That's my sister and papa. Arielle and Akavir. They're missing.

God only knew how Ibis would respond to her brazen inquiry.

"i am an atsak. i have the desire to make matches for those who do not have husbands or wives." the duck would have added more had not the girl spoken, offering a description of a child and a man.

kukutux reexamined the stress that seemed to cling around the soft curves of the mother. "i have not seen them." the scent of wraen, wreathing now; the fragrance of arcturus a reminder in her mind. she gathered herself.

"but i will look. how long have they been away?"

An atsak? Before Ibis could ask after that term or what it might entail, Lilitu launched in to her own piece of the conversation and Ibis turned to flash her a shocked look; this poor woman need not know the family's business! Its failings! Her failings. It was a brief moment of panic, of hurt, and as she set her jaw and frowned pointedly towards her daughter Ibis hoped to convey her disappointment however brief it was. The flare-up of emotion had to be contained for propriety's sake.

They would discuss this later.

Kukutux denies seeing either the father or daughter, and Ibis' features soften as she looks upon the mountaineer. It has been over a week, nearing two. I am sure Akavir will be home soon with our girl, Ibis mentions and side-glances at her remaining daughter, trying to be the confident mother holding a flame for her loved ones, but her expression doesn't hold long.

Lilitu returned the frown, with interest. What if her father and sister were lost? How were they supposed to find them without asking around? Lately, it seemed like everything she did was wrong in Ibis's eyes. Exploring, cracking the ice, making friends, trying to find their family. . . It ran the gamut. And she was tired of it.

I don't have a husband. . .or a wife. Would you make a match for me? she asked, unaware that she was a little young to be asking such questions. But it seemed like everybody had somebody, and they all looked quite familiar with each other. Why not start now? She canted her head, looking at the asak, or whatever she'd called herself. Doubtless, Mama would find fault in her latest question, too.

But heck, it didn't hurt to ask, right? She thought it was a fair question.

kukutux observed the mother's face quickly, along the pretty edges of her countenance. "it has snowed much," she said with a wide gesture, hoping to dispel a little of the tension that had only grown with the girl's mention of the names.

names kukutux did not repeat, for fear that they had succumbed. "perhaps they were only stopped longer than they had thought they might be," she suggested encouragingly. greenstone eyes flicked to the girl. "a match is for those who are prepared. but i search for an ugi for my daughter. not a match. but perhaps he will one day be chosen by her."

Ibis' jaw tightened when her daughter spoke up again, but this time she did not dissuade her. Irritated as she was, the woman had to be the adult in this instance; this was a moment where the still-forming fen pack would make an impression, however small, upon a potential future ally.

The other woman was not at fault for her questions, nor in knowing what was shared. Ibis let out a small, sharp breath when Lilitu tried to take hold of the conversation again — to which Ibis hastily shut down.

Such matches are for adults, Lilitu. Ibis corrected, choosing not to look at the silver girl and instead remain focused on Kukutux, who reiterated as much. Unfortunately we do not have anyone we can recommend. We have not been here long enough to know the area well, or to have grown our numbers... But perhaps once the spring arrives.

Her mind wanders a little... then she smiles, choosing to dismiss the question for now. We are just on our way home now, actually. We wish you luck in your search, miss. And then a glance to Lilitu — tired, focused, matronly. Come along, now.

Well, shucks, at least Kukutux explained it nicely. Ibis once more replied as if she were a baby, and Lilitu huffed a sigh, wanting to burrow deep into the earth and never surface again. She could have handled this on her own. Instead, her mother had made her look foolish in front of a beautiful stranger.

Thanks, she said, trying but failing to keep the sullen note from her tone as she addressed the ethereal woman, then echoed, Good luck.

With heavy steps she followed after Ibis, more than ready to separate from her mother's eagle eye once they were back in the fen. A day out, completely ruined. Why couldn't she just grow up and be on her own, already?

<3 ty!

a flurry of words. the beautiful woman turned, and her daughter turned reluctantly after her. kuktutux did not know what pain moved in the dove's heart; she had only known a loss, and it was long ago. i hope that he returns to you, that they both return.

the prayer in her spirit, she turned, thanking those about her that it had not been the subject of her earlier cruelty that had found her so close.