Ouroboros Spine Little Paws

Tiny. Dainty. She moved from her family's spot. Her little redhead held high as she walked. Ears swiveling for all the noises. Birds singing in the trees. The babbling brook nearby and the wind whispered in the trees. A small smile on her face. The rapidly changing colors of her eyes.

A little wiggle in her step. Happy in her moment.

Where the water ran gentle, splitting off into the brook Ajei strolled not far from, Arrluk slept. He had fished for awhile or at least, practiced to. He had not yet caught his first catch all by himself just yet. After having failed for quite a time, Arrluk had taken a break and had fallen asleep from the comforting sounds of water flow. His body was stretched out on his belly, limbs out straight and aligned with the bank side.

Ajei swerved and headed towards the bank. Sunman had tried to teach her and her brother to fish and she wished to practice, but it was with surprise she came across Arrluk. The light and shadow of his fur startling contrast to the grass, but she was pleased to see him.

A wrinkle of little maw she moved closer. He slept soundly, ears and eyes twitching in sleep. Paws pointed towards the river they both loved. A small smile and though she wished to dot his forehead with a kiss as Ana did to her, because it only felt right. No one should sleep without forehead kisses. She didn't. 

Instead she settled nearby. Tiny red and white dipping into the grass, curl of tail around paws. And she'd watch over him until he woke. So he wasn't alone.

His tail waves back and forth along the grass, like a serpent's might through water. His lips lifting with quivers, Arrluk dreams of catching his first prey and showing his parents with joy and pride. 

After some while, his white-splotched brows furrow. He has captured another scent. His nose goes to work, his body pulling along the grass towards the scent, as his dreams mingle with reality. 

His nose ends up pressing into Ajei's front upper leg and the sudden realization that he now was awake finally came to him and he was touching something... someone! He sees as his eyes shoot open and he jumps, reeling back. Ajei! He squeals. How long have you been here?? The skin of his cheeks flush and he sheepishly smiles as he straightens himself up.

Ajei kept her gaze upon the surrounding area. Enjoying he moment as it were. The sound of all the things she loved. Ever so often a noise would come from Arrluk and she'd look him over to make sure he was alright, but they seemed to be good dreams. So she left him alone.

Ajei giggled at the tickle and then giggled harder as she looked down and noticed Arrluk not even awake and sniffing at her. She laughs with delight. 

For awhile. You seemed comfy so I decided to just keep watch for you. Did you have a good nap, Arrluk?

She is giggling and Arrluk felt his cheeks burn hotter, a sheepish and shy smile moving over his mug. Her happiness made his stomach flutter and his tail wave behind him along the grass. Arrluk loved his brothers much, but Ajei was different. In ways, she was like his sister- quiet, soft spoken, and more sweet then she knew better. Ajei was not sister, but he found he was caring for her all the same. 

I did. He said, regaining his voice as he scrambled up into a sit. I was dreaming I caught a fish- finally. He said with a rolling of his eyes and tossing them towards the water. I was practicing and then got tired.

There was a special place in her heart for the children of Moonwoman and Sunman, but Arrluk was often the one she preferred. In his quiet presence she felt she could be herself and not have to be brave or strong or not shy. He didn't mind that she was quiet and that she hid sometimes.

OH! Mama says if we stay in shallows we can sometimes catch fish if we are real still!

Ajei frowned as she stared at the water and puffed out her cheeks for a minute in thought. Do you want to practice more? Or do you want to do something else? Maybe if we both practice we can do it better?

Her excitement beamed and Arrluk grinned. Dats what dad said too. Aiolos had told him that he had taught Ajei and Chiteo of fishing as well. I got an idea..! He thought up, brought on by her words. 

Lifting up off the ground, he slowly moved into the shallows. A quiver went through his spine and wriggled out the end of his tail from the chill. It was a nice respite though in the heat of summer with a predominately black coat. 

Aligning himself with the river bank, he then looked back up to Ajei. Stand in front of me, but not too close. If a fish swims between us maybe we have a better chance catching it with both of us.

She blinked at his loud eclamation surprised at it. But not scared. Then she watched and waited for the idea to come to fruition. What did he have planned for them.

She followed behind him. A small little yelp of surprise and then a sigh at the cold water. It could be hot sometimes and the water was a nice break.

She stood in front facing him. Noticing their height differences as they both approached half a year. Then she studied the water. Catching glimpses of fish a little ways away. She tried to remeber what both her mother and Sunman had taught her.

All was then quiet. At least, they were. Arrluk stood still and after while, hung his head low. And after a time later, narrowed his eyes even as he relaxed. 

He listened to the fluttering and chatter of birds. The distant rustling of critters perhaps in the brush, or one of their pack passing buy. Water flowed over rocks and downstream. Ajei's slow breath. Arrluk was happy to quietly listen to it all. 

Then, he began to feel nibbling at his legs and his eyes shot open. Little silvered fish nipping at the hairs on his legs as they waved in the water. It tickled and his muscles tensed as he did his best not to jerk from it. Look...! He loud-whispered.

He seemed relaxed, but bore an intense expression on his face. Ajei titled her head up to catch the sun for a minute bwfore she looked back down.

The sound of the forest trickled in. A pinpoint of beauty on a tapestry of green.

She blinked and looked down and smiled.

oh! Anaa put her head in and bited, but she went a little front of fishes.

There she was, colored in flames and drinking in the sun. And he, colored like the great long salt killer and drinking up the water. 

Go in front... He repeats and takes in a deep breath. Together- now...! And he lunges. 

Arrluk feels his teeth easily slice into something far smoother and far less resistant then deer or goat red meat, yet the taste of blood is familiar on his tongue. He hoists the silver fish into the air, still scrambling in his jaws. It wasnt the largest, but it was his!

Ajei enjoyed the sun and the river and the sky. And she enjoyed the company.

She followed his command and moved in front, but she waited a second too long and though she bit the fish. It's tail slid from her teeth.

But she lifted her head with a smile on her maw. She had almost caught it, and Arrluk had.

She did a small dance in the shallows. Good Job Arrluk. You be great fisher like your dad soon!

Arrluk could not help the sheepish grin on his mug ad he held the fish in his jaws, jerking his head around. Fish sure were strong! 

It didnt last forever though and as he trotted out of the shallows and onto dry land, he flopped the fish down on the ground and placed a paw onto it. Victory! 

Come taste it with me. He said as he turned back to Ajei. Have you had any fish before?

She giggled. And would have agreed. The strength in the tail alone had about knocked her over.

Ajei followed behind him and stepped a few feet away too shake out her fur and lick some of the excess from her fire fur.


She nodded. Mhmm! Very tasty. Mama when she show me caught one.

She trotted over to him. A soft nudge to his side. You did good.

Thanks. He gave a small, innocent smile as she told him he had done good and nudged into his shoulder. He knew it would take time, but he did hope that he would learn to fish as well as his father did. 

I haven't had any yet. He admit then. Though his father had offered many times, Arrluk had refused to eat any fish until he was able to catch one himself. 

Now, pawing at the fish, he lowered himself in front of it, trying to remember the best way to remove the scales. His father had gotten his little front teeth up under the skin and peeled it off in long stripes, leaving the flesh whole and smooth. As Arrluk began, he took out chunks of the fish with it and the skin kept ripping, scales flying and sticking all to his tongue. Yeah, this was gonna take some practice...

You're welcome! She called to him. He had managed to catch a fish and so had Raq. She was the one who hadn't yet. She would need to try more, but she got distracted by the colors or the sky.

She touched his paw. Can I try? She had smaller teeth and frame. Perhaps she could do okay at the scaling . Maybe not though. IF there was any left to try on and his mother had already taught her how to scrape from the fur. This seemed similar.

After Ajei watching Arrluk butcher one side of the fish, he felt the touch of her small paw on his foreleg, offering to help. He smiled sheepishly, tail thumping the ground behind him. I'm making a mess of it, arnt I? He questioned and then licked his nose, trying to get off a number of scales which were now stuck to the length of his muzzle. 

Deciding it would be for the best to let Ajei have a go at it, he flipped the fish onto its other side and pushed it closely in front of her. Whilst she worked, he would be pawing at his face and nose to remove the scales and sticking out and curling his tongue in odd ways to try and get the scales off of it as well.

Ahe shook her head. 

You did fine!

She used her smaller teeth and more delicate paw to descale it fairly quickly.

Though she couldn't quite hide her giggle at his face contortions.

Come here 

She motioned for him to put his head further down. They were fast approaching adult size and he was bigger than she. She gently combed through his fur and along his nose. Like her mama did for her and Chiteo when they got dirty.

If he'd allow her of course. Some wolves didn't like much touch. She thought if her father.

She skinned the fish and mighty quickly at that! Surely she had to have been practicing the skill of skinning from his mother. Maybe it would be best he did some practicing, too. 

To her words, he lowers his head between his forelegs, white-rimmed ears falling back and white blotch brows knitting with a shyness. He was still and open to her grooming of him. It was as though his mother had done time and time to one another before, but he felt a fluttering in his gut when Ajei did it which he didn't quite understand. 

Thanks...

Ajei had learned well at the paws of moonwoman and her Mama. She may not understand the true nuances of their beliefs, but she did learn as best she could what they felt the want and need to teach.

Ajei enjoyed making the fur around his face shine. He had such pretty coloring. Handsome she would come to add in time, but for now. She enjoyed him and his coat of shadow and snow.

She beamed. of course you are welcome!

Deleted! Also, sorry I've been failing with Arrluk a bit.

Arrluk's tail thumps the earth behind him and when she is finished he lifts up his head again, bright green eyes (one which had a blotch of deeper blue in it) looking from her to the fish. Ready to give it a try?

You're fine. I and Ajei adore him and Ajei isn't going anywhere she'd not leave him no matter how long. <3

He had ocean eyes she would come to realize in time. 

Yes I am.

She looked to him and then the water unsure, but willing to try.

awwwweee! Arrluk definitely won't be going anywhere anytime soon either!

He could see the hessitance in her eyes, but did his best to keep the pressure off. Hey, if you don't catch anything this time, we still have one. He spoke as he pawed the fish sitting in between them.

Ajei was nervous, but she also knew that Arrluk would do hisbest to help her. To ease the hesitancy she felt.

She smiled and gave a firm nod. For her family and friends she could do many things that normally she couldn't.

A soft chuckle. Okay.

Fire kissed and white she stepped into the water. Green eyes watching the shapes beneath.