Totoka River tungujuqtaq ≬

for @Elixir!

the shoreline reminded kukutux these days of aiolos. she had said nothing to come here, and now she stood looking out toward the place called yuelong, where he ruled with the empress.

how could she tell him what had gone on? what words would come to her in such an hour? 

shame welled within the duck; a regretful pain took its place. she was silent, turning slowly away from the shadow of the island.

Elixir had loved her new home, the coast had called to her like no other. A year or two ago she’d never have pictured herself loving the sea as she does now. There was something about the way the moon danced upon the waves as they crashed against the rocks that felt serene. The way the salty air tickles at her nose brings a smile to her face.

    Being here brought back so many memories of her family. The way Cortland would sit and listen to her and the way he looked at her. Oh, how she missed the sweet man. Elixir hoped that he was happy and that he had raised their kids to be just like him. With the upcoming season of puppies her heart ached with loneliness.

   The shadow was on her way back home as she spotted another. The woman reminded her of a soft snowflake perfectly white as it would fall from the sky. Elixir approached slowly, “Hello there” her voice traveled softly. Elixir stopped when she thought there was an appropriate distance between them.

a greeting. kukutux set her eyes upon a most curious creature: not wolf. but yet she smelled of wolves, the duck could spot from this distance. "i welcome you," the duck said against the swell of prejudice in her gut. and she closed the distance between them with a handful of steps.

the redglass eyes swept her close, and kukutux found herself fearful, wondering what sort of creatures existed in yuelong. "you know aiolos?" she said softly, wondering why he had not chosen this one — but kukutux meant to bind him to moonspear.

Elixir had sat back on her hind end, tail wagging ever so slightly. The snowflake made distance between her and elixir slight. A smile formed upon the shadows lips as the woman welcomed her. Elixir dipped her head in respect to the snow Angel. 

  “ Aiolos leads alongside Huā, I’ve never actually interacted with him.” she said ears perked. ” I am Elixir, Yuelong is my new found home..” the shadow basically whispered, she felt as though she shared to much with far too many that she never really knew. Elixir wanted to learn to keep things to herself, after all that might help her hurting heart.

ah, so she was new. that was the reason, then. "i have knowledge of them both," the duck said with a curve to her lips as she too lowered her haunches to the cold earth. "aiolos is a close companion to me."

there, the vague tug of shame. for she was married, and not to him. their meetings in the eye of all the old village would have been unseemly, and yet aiolos had never been brazen with her. she trusted the redsun, and wished greatly she might fulfill her word. "i am kukutux. why did you choose yuelong for home?"

Elixir bobbed her head as an agreeement to her knowing Aiolos, a close companion. “How did you come to meet him? If you don’t mind me asking anyway ..” the shadow asked curious to know more about the woman. Elixir smiled at the woman’s name, Kukutux she repeated in her brain. Somehow she thought the name was fitting for the snowflake. 

“ it’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. “ elixir replied softly and then left silence so that she could ponder the question about why she had chosen yuelong. “ I’ve found a love for the sea. The way the night sky looks when it’s reflecting off the soft sea waves and the way the smell is like no other, sea salt and sand. Huā also had found me after I felt like I was too weak to do anything. her reasoning seemed sufficient enough at that.

"we were once in another village together," kukutux said softly, unsure what to say of courtfall, or if more could be whispered. agana; the duck's heart constricted with a sudden wave of painful memories, but for elixir's sake she maintained her focus.

the odd-made woman spoke softly, reverently of the sea. the empress had found this one and taken her back to the island. kukutux thought it in some ways similar to her own sensation of the long water. "it has much beauty. as does hua," the snow-wife added smilingly, wondering how she might bring a beam to the face of elixir.

Elixir nodded at the answer given, they had met before in another pack. The blackened woman had never really interacted with Aiolos but if or when she did, she would be sure to mention meeting this woman. Maybe it would bring back some good memories for him, or so she had thought.

The sea had called to her unlike anything she’d ever felt before other than the night sky which she had much love for. “you’re right, Huā and the sea are both easy on the eyes. elixir agreed after thinking just for a moment about when she first had met the Island Queen. “ what brings you to the coast ? A home? “ the wolf dogs curiousity breaks the silence that she had let fall between the two.

"i live in moonspear," kukutux answered softly. "i travel these days to find those who want husbands or wives, and try to make matches for them." she thought again of aiolos, green eyes blinking thoughtfully. "the winter has been a hard time. i do not expect many children born, but perhaps all of us will help with a summertime that is more bright."

having spoken more than she wished, the duck fell silent now, wondering what elixir might say.

The snowflake was far from home, matching wolves with their significant others. Elixir felt her heart wrench, memories of Cortland were hard to push away with puppy season upon the wilds. “ that’s very generous of you, helping others find the ones that their heart yearns for. With the snow storm this winter it’s been hard I agree. I hope to see a few puppies this year, or find someone to enjoy life with...” the dog fell silent for a moment and shifted her gaze to the horizon. 

“do you have someone to share your life with?” her hard red eyes never shifted from the horizon. The ocean breeze flew over her pelt and cut through to her skin. The shadow shifted her weight and flicked her tail softly waiting for what the dove would say.

so this elixir was a candidate for what she offered. kukutux moved somewhat closer; their combined warmth would be an effective shield against the lash of winter's tongue, so exposed as they were upon the shoreline. "what do you seek in a husband?" the duck asked softly, beginning her first inquiry into how she might potentially make a match for her.

aiolos returned to her mind. "i have a husband in moonspear. we have a son and a daughter. perhaps our hearth might be blessed with more this season."

The shadow perked her ears after the question was asked about what she looked for in a husband. That was hard for her, she had never really thought of what someone would be like to share her life with. [b] “ uhm... maybe a nice heart, someone who can be kind and caring but also protective when needed. Someone who’s not afraid to feel with every piece of themselves. A good father eventually.... I’m not sure what else. “[\b] elixir said shaking her head up and down agreeing with the words that splurged from her muzzle.

    The woman coming closer helped with the winter chill. A smile formed on her blackened lips. It was a warm heart that kept the chill away is what elixir thought.

kukutux nodded, and thought of wintersbane. while he had not been one for much emotional discussion of the heart, she sensed he had a great gentleness to him. despite the roll of his voice and the scars upon his body, the hunter was good of soul.

"i think that i may have a name for you," the duck assured, shoulders rolling back as she prepared to trek in return to her homeland. "i will make a meeting for you, somewhere near."

she did not know she would return for a death that would carve its way into the side of her beloved mountain.

Elixir let silence fall between them as the dove had taken in her words. The wolfdog had a sense of hope in her heart that there would be someone out there for her. As Kukutux spoke her heart skipped a few beats. It was the words she had hoped for.

There was someone that she thought would be a good match. Elixirs tail started to wag unconsciously. She had hoped that they would meet soon, who was this man she had in mind? What would he be like? 

So many questions that would only be answered after they set up the meeting. Elixir nodded, “ I’m looking forward to meeting him. she said softly hiding her excitement.

could prob fade here <3 we will need an updated thread when kuku can travel again!

a tip of her muzzle skyward. "i must leave along my path now," the duck said softly, though on impulse she reached out to brush elixir's cheekbone with her muzzle. "i will call for you by the sea." a smile decorated her mouth; she lingered for a last look before turning and setting her paws to the edge of the sand, leading wayward as she listened to an inner call.

Elixir understood that she needed to get back home to her family. A smile formed as she dipped her head slightly to the dove. “I look forward to hearing from you sometime. It’s been so nice talking with you. I hope you’re travels are safe as you head home. elixir said softly. 

The future was so unsure, but she was hopeful that her new friend would help her find someone that was good for her. The shadow turned to Yuelong and headed home with a glance back at the woman.