Duskfire Glacier punilivik

The white wolf journeyed towards the glacier from one of the old camps, having stopped there with @Sakhmet to show off what Moonglow had built, even temporarily, and to warm one-another within one of the ulaqs that Kukutux had left behind; they stayed the night there, and in the morning spent hours lost to one another's passion.

The afternoon dragged on and by early evening, as the sky tipped towards darkness, they were on the move again. Frolicking in the snow — so far as a warrior of Tartok could frolic — and enjoying the splendor of the massive sheet of ice as it rose against mountains.

As the pair neared the edge of what would be the glacier's village, Kigipigak tipped his head back and called to those within. He did not call for anyone in particular, as the thought to do so slipped from his mind. It had only been about a week since the shared hunts and the celebration that united villages; he was confident that the Duskfire wolves would remember him.

Bliss.

Mindless, never ending bliss. She wondered if this was what her mother had felt with Mou. It did not matter if the north was cold in ways she had never experienced. For she was warmed by her love for the snowy man — and she wore the blessing of the moon woman in the form of the caribou pelt on her shoulders.

She was eager to meet these wolves he spoke of. Even more eager to see the places he had been. How Moonglow had set up camp for their hunts and where things had happened. Signs of his living in her absence. It did not harm her, not the way it might have once.

It would not be until the sun settled upon the northern reaches that they had finally found their way — through passion and romping and roving — to the village's edge. There was some vague memory of this place that lingered in the back of her mind.

Oh but it hardly mattered much now, did it? She was here to make new memories, fresh memories with the presence of Kigipigak.

So as he called, she still warmly lingered by his shoulder. Trusted that he'd keep her close, still carrying the perfume of herself and him, even if they were visiting friendly faces.

Kigipigak's voice was an unexpected one, since to Lane's knowledge most of Moonglow had departed the northern territories. Lane proceeded briskly to the borders, assuming that although he had not called for her specifically, he still meant to take her out for that hunt they had discussed. As she travelled, she contemplated why Kigipigak might have remained behind when the rest of his pack had returned to their homeland. Did Kigipigak mean to finally establish his own pack? Did he mean to court Lane, as his gift of the albino pelt seemed to imply? 

What would Lane say, if he meant to court her? Tuuluuwaq had already voiced his interest. Wouldn't it be frivolous and vain of Lane to court with two suitors, especially at a time when her pack was in need of so much attention? 

Lane would not spend too long mulling over this train of thought, as all thoughts of courting Kigipigak would disappear as soon as the pair came into view. They were clearly a couple; Lane could surmise that much just from the way the diminutive woman hovered at Kigipigak's shoulder. The wind brought the woman's scent to Lane, and it was tinged with a fragrance that she recognized all too well. There could be no doubt that Kigipigak had chosen his woman. 

Lane might have been bitter to have been passed over for the third time in a year, but she swallowed this ugly reflex down by conjuring up a mental image of Tuuluuwaq. She recalled the thrill in her heart on the night of the feast, dancing with the Tatkret man under the Cold Moon.

By the time she reached the pair, Lane was able to manage a welcoming smile. "Kigipigak, hello," she said cheerily. She turned to his companion and with a start, realized she recognized the woman. This was the woman from the Plateau-- the one who had told her of her plans for Blacktail! 

"Oh!" Lane emitted, very surprised to recognize the woman. "Hello to you too. It's nice to see you again. I had wondered..." she trailed off, her expression darkening as she remembered the day she returned to the Plateau to check in with Kigipigak and the Blacktail woman, and she found they had both vanished without a trace. 

"Anyway, I'm just glad to see you well," she finished, offering the woman a smile. Lane didn't remember her name. She wasn't sure if she had ever been told.

Kigipigak was so smitten with his beloved that his eye wandered from the surroundings, his ears did not hear the approaching footfalls of another, and he did not look back to where Lane stood until she was there with them and speaking. Her reaction brought a brief awareness to the white wolf, but he could not be drawn from Sakhmet's embrace so quickly.

It was startling that the two women knew one-another, even though Sakhmet had already told him of this, he had forgotten. His mind and heart glutted on the very thought of his new wife.

We are well! Kigipigak agreed with Lane's assessment, unaware of her deeper sentiments. He only wanted to parade the red-furred girl around and show her off, and was glad that it was Lane that had come to greet them.

Sakhmet and I, we seek a place to make our own village. While on this journey it was decided to avoid the cold coast, and to go inland. It was a chance to show off what our villages accomplished together. He was beaming, proud of this almost as much as he was proud of Sakhmet beside him.

I have shown her the valley camp. Perhaps we can stay there for a few nights and hunt with your village? Kigipigak knew the herds had been greatly thinned by this point, between the hunting of two villages-worth of hunters combined with the illness had swept the life from the frozen place. But he was still interested in trying.

It was almost like arranging a honeymoon.

The woman who approached was not who she had expected. Only because part of her had not expected somebody so familiar! Granted this time around the woman's sides had not ballooned with the promise of life within. Something that Sakhmet remained unaware would take to her soon enough — for now she remained slimmed by travel, caribou pelt draped over sharp shoulders.

Hello, She managed to squeeze in with warmth and respect, because soon enough the northern man took the conversational reigns.

In fact, Kigipigak seemed to blossom and bloom by her side, quick to inform the familiar woman of their plans here in the north. Sakhmet could only smile with warmth and affection. Silver moon gaze drifted from her husband (husband!) back to this village's woman.

When he finished with the asking of the hunt, Sakhmet saw no reason to not sweeten the deal some more —

I'd be happy to help beyond hunting too, if there is anything your village needs.

Village. Look at her, melding into the culture of her husband's ways.

Sakhmet! The name rang zero bells for Lane, but that wasn't saying much. She was awful with names. It was just as possible that she had been told the name and forgotten it as it was that she had never known it in the first place. 

Kigipigak was grinning from ear to ear as he spoke and Lane couldn't help it; she smiled also. She had always experienced his energy as infectious. 

Oh! They wished to stay for a few days. They also wished to hunt, which seemed like a lost cause given the situation with the herd. Lane couldn't burst Kigipigak's bubble though; not when he looked so damn happy. 

"Sure," she found herself agreeing. "Stay in the valley, or stay here as our guests. Wherever you will be comfortable." Lane wouldn't blame them if they wanted a little extra space for alone time, given the *ahem* fragrance that Sakhmet wore. Each time Kigipigak glanced to Sakhmet, his energy seemed to smolder hotter.

Sakhmet spoke up, offering assistance. Well, since she asked...

"Duskfire Glacier is moving, actually. I could use some help packing up..." Lane paused, considering an idea that had just sprouted in her mind. When she spoke again, her words were directed to both of them.

"Why don't you two travel with us, when we move? You can scout the land as we go, and with any luck, if you find your own place to settle it might be near to the new Duskfire home. It would be nice to have friends close by.. a sister pack, even." Lane shrugged nonchalantly. She didn't expect an immediate answer for such a spontaneous suggestion.

The final destination for DFG wolves will be Nimbus Summit, just fyi.

Tuulu heard the call from where he was patrolling and recognized it as being from Kigipigak. He wondered why the hunter would be summoning glacier wolves to the border to meet him. His call didn't sound worried or urgent; it sounded joyful. The Tatkret was immediately curious and made his way to the other man as quickly as possible. 

As he drew closer, He picked out Lane's scent first—he would know her warm, earthy scent anywhere. He also picked up the presence of a stranger and grew even more curious.

He trotted to Lane's side once he arrived, offering her a smile and a brush of his shoulder against hers in greeting. His smile grew as he looked upon Kigipigak and the woman glued to his side. She wore the faint scent of heat and smelled strongly of the hunter beside her, and he surmised that they were together. Kigipigak! he greeted. It is good to see you again. Who is this you have brought to meet us? He hadn't heard what was said before, and so he was unaware he had interrupted their conversation.

An agreement was found between them. Kigipigak was pleased beyond words, and let his tail sway freely. The pair could stay with those of the village and hunt with them or take time alone in the valley camps, as they had upon arrival.

The news that came from Lane was a shock and Kigipigak stilled a moment. Moving? He uttered softly, but it was not a frightening thought, and in fact struck him as sensible. Moonglow had migrated for the winter. Duskfire could do the same, at least to find some place more hospitable while the herds could recover. It may be some time before that; but Kigipigak presumed they would one day return to their glacier.

Her invitation was met with a blink, and then Kigipigak was looking to Sakhmet, wondering if more travel was desired by his wife.

Before Kigipigak could say anything, there came another body. This was one he knew from the hunts, and from the celebration: the man Tuuluuwaq. He looked to be in good health; Kigipigak could not refrain from the thought, he stands well beside Lane.

Tuuluuwaq! The man's voice booms. This is my wife, Sakhmet.

This certainly was...a lot!

Sakhmet, despite riding on the highs of being newly wedded found herself overwhelmed by the duskfire woman's words. Invited to travel along with them on their departure from the glacier! Which, well, obviously news to the Melonii but it certainly did not strike her as the way it seemed to strike her husband. Who then looked to her with a look she had certainly seen before. He sought her opinion of such an idea.

They had intended to come to the north for mountains and forests, where would the duskfire woman lead her wolves?

I would like to hear more of where —

Then another wolf appeared! This one who called out joyously to Kigipigak. Her husband called him Tuuluuwaq. And she could only smile warmly once more for how she was introduced. Although her tail did press tightly to her underside. Perhaps a bit...cautious in the face of another man.

Lane was glad for Tuuluuwaq to join the group at the border. Her tail swung low and quick when he appeared, and she would meet his gaze briefly with warmth and affection in her expression. When she returned her eyes to their guests, there would be a little more pride in her stance and a newfound air of satisfaction. Although Lane may not hold a candle to Sakhmet in Kigipigak's eyes, Tuuluuwaq had always made it clear that she was his first choice. 

"Issorartuyok and our scouts have found a territory that seems promising," Lane said, answering Sakhmet after the introductions were made. "It's far to the southwest, in a hinterlands. We will cross most of Teekon when we travel there."

She turned to Tuuluwaq. "I have invited Kigipigak and Sakhmet to travel with us when we move. They are searching for a territory for their own claim," she explained, catching him up. Although Lane and Issorartuyok had not yet made any formal announcement to the pack about the move, it was common knowledge in the ranks that Issorartuyok and the scouts were searching for new territory. This mention of the move would not be first that Tuuluuqwaq had heard.

Congratulations! He said to both Kigipigak and Sakhmet. The woman seemed nervous by the way her tail tucked beneath her, so Tuuluu tried not to leave his gaze on her for too long. I am happy for you both.

Lane explained to them about their move and how Isso had found a better place for them to live. The Tatkret would be lying if he said he wouldn't miss the glacier, but the land could not sustain a pack if there was no prey to feed them. The journey would be long, and though the northerner was no stranger to traveling long distances, he had a newfound worry growing in his chest. It was only now that he realized it was for Lane's safety. She didn't need him to worry about her, yet he still did. 

Lane informed him of her invitation to the newlyweds. Tuulu smiled. I would love for you two to join us, he told them. If that sounds like something you would like to do. Maybe they wanted to travel alone, just the two of them; he certainly wouldn't blame them.

Fade soon? :D

They would both need to know more. Lane gave some clues as to where they were headed, citing it was far enough that many mountains would need to be crossed. Kigipigak thought it sounded like a grand adventure; but he also listened closely to Sakhmet, and saw how cautious she became with Tuuluuwaq there. This was enough to distract him from future plans.

Kigipigak moved to subtly protect her. To place himself close, and forward, so that she would be behind him. I am happy that you have a plan in mind, given the health of the herds. Or the lack of it; the deadness of everything was a threat to any claim.

We will think it over while we visit! He concluded, and while he wanted to nose through his wife's nape and show off his love for her, he contained himself, and only watched her with warmth in his eyes.

good to fade whenever, probably last from me!

The southwest, across the Teekon.

They had just done such a travel along the coast and they had set their dreams upon the north. She had no taste to return south or west. Nothing but jaded feelings in the lands there.

Regardless she did appreciate the offer and she would show so to the Duskfire village.

Kigipigak would hear her true feelings on it when they found themselves alone once more.