Ouroboros Spine Little Girl, Little Girl

The early morning light, fell on land still frosted and cool. But upon the tails of wind that blew, spring was coming. It was clear in the way that more bird song sounded in the trees. And the grass was beginning to lose it's burnished gold look, and become greener and began to reach towards the blue sky. 

Her thoughts were on her mother. She was growing older and it concerned the little dainty child of red and white. She pulled her cat fur tighter around her shoulders. The tawny fur a contrast to the deep red. It caused a soft sigh to stir past muzzle and lips. She thought of the other daughter of Moonwoman who couldn't be found. She hoped wherever she was, she healed and found her way back someday.

A gentle twitch of small nose and she headed towards the forest line. Perhaps something warm and hearty would make her mother smile.

Arrluk hunted in the forest. Well, tracked, at the very least. 

The scent of a deer having come through here. It's tracks told Arrluk it was but one and its scent strong and healthy. A young buck, he thought and followed the trail in a lazy lope. He knew he would not be able to hunt it, but keeping post on its whereabouts was essential. 

After a while, he hears the footfalls of another in the distance. Her sweet scent causing Arrluk to pause and draw his attention to her. Ajei. His smile is bright and he woofs lowly in soft greeting as he makes his way to her. The buck already forgotten.

Ajei had caught scent of the deer, but she didn't even head towards where they were. Knowing she would never be able to hunt or track one herself. Though there were other's that mixed in with it. Friends. She wondered briefly if she'd meet them today, but focused on the small weasels and rabbits that skittered throughout the underbrush.

A woof broke the silence and she lifted downy head. Green eyes zeroing in on Arrluk near. A smile lit up her face, a happy wag of tail.

Hello! She crossed the space between to nudge him gently.

Arrluk brushes his chin over Ajei's shoulder to return her greeting and then he takes a step back, sniffing the air near here. He smelt weasel. Both getting an early start, hu? It seemed both their interests had been on the hunt. Surprising that it wasn't at the river side or lake bed that they met up like typically.

A gentle smile, green eyes dancing along his face. But his question, she faltered a bit. Ears going to her skull and she voiced a concern she held.

I don't usually like to hunt. I prefer fishing, but I thought perhaps something warm and a little more hearty may do mama some good.

She took a soft breath and exhaled, her eyes slightly wet. She is strong of will and heart, but age is creeping, Arrluk. She has trouble in the morning sometimes and her fur is grey and.

She ran a dainty paw across her cheek. I just want to make her smile. a smile of her own then. Yes that was all she wanted.

pretty sure i read in one of Shikoba threads she had trouble moving about in the am

There was concern deep in those emerald eyes of her, glistening with unshed tears and as her ears pressed to her skull, so did his own. He is quiet, listening.  

I know... He murmurs, going to close the gap between them and press so that his chest is to her shoulder and his head placed onto her nape in wolfish hug. I see it too, in dad. Stiff in places where old wounds are buried. This winter harder then the last, yet his mother showed no ailments in her age, being a year or so younger. Yet Shikoba, she was even older... She had lived long and strong. 

I know when the time comes, they will go to the Dancing Lights to greet our ancestors but... His words drift. It was bitter sweet, to live so long and fruitful, yet nothing could smother the sorrow of it still.

As always Arrluk listened without comment at first. Just let her unload and took it. No questions, no answers. Just listen. She always appreciated that about him. All too often she felt as if she were the one listening. And she certainly didn't mind, but it was nice every now and again to be listened too.

She took the hug and leaned against his side. He was so much bigger than her. He actually quite encompassed her. It felt safe and warm. She frowned as he said he could see it too in his own father. This wasn't fair. How painful it was going ot be. Though both parents deserved rest.

But it is going to be painful for those of us left behind.

She remained there in his embrace, finishing his sentence when he had trailed off. He nods, quiet a moment longer as they stood there in the forest of home. 

Come on... He urges then softly, moving back and lifting his muzzle to sniff at the air and then down to the earth. Let's get your mom that weasel.

He let her take what comfort she needed. And he seemed to understand when to let her go. He had seemed to agree with her sentence, but goodness
 It was a painful truth, but better than pretty lies.

A wag of her tail and a smile. A firm nod.

 Okay.

She bent her nose to the ground. Trying to find the scent again. There were bird and rabbit, other wolves even deer, but underneath it all. The scent of musk, and dirt.

 She caught the weasel's scent. She began to weave through the woods in ernest. Perhaps she could flush it out and Arrluk dispatch it.

Arrluk more or less followed Ajei's lead, trying not to get distracted by the strong smell of deer which he had been tracking earlier. There! The weasel! 

Arrluk remained low, slowing his pace in order to give Ajei more space. She was small, she was quick. If she could flush the prey out and give chase, maybe Arrluk could snatch it. 

Yet his pelt was stark black and white. Just as easy to spot as Ajei's vibrant white and red. Too bad it wasn't autumn... But just maybe, the yearlings could pull this off...

There was a different movement in the quiet gentle Ajei. She wanted to make her mother happy and the thought seemed to buoy her confidence a little.

Arrluk stayed behind ready to catch and kill if need be. So Ajei darted in and out of the underbrush chasing the chattering beast.

Fi ally, ahe caught up to it and snapped at its tail. It chittered and raced towards Arrluk. Oh she hoped he could catch it.

Arrluk laid low, hiding half behind a bush as he watched Ajei darting around through the foliage as she tried to flush the weasel out from undercover. 

Soon, it was rushing into Arrluk's direction. Arrluk lunged out to the side, grabbing the creature by the tail as he tried to run past. It wiped around, biting Arrluk on the snout as it tried to free itself. It worked, as Arrluk barked out and jumped back, only to lunge back, snatching the weasel by the haunches. It screamed, thrashing about yet finally with another few swift bites to the little creature's torso and head, it fell to the ground limp. 

Arrluk perked up then, lifting his skull and turning to Ajei with a large grin, tail waving behind him. They did it!

Ajei felt different doing this. She didn't quite enjoy it as she always had with fishing. But a sort of thrumming energy nipped at her heels. An adrenaline high of sorts. She could do this, maybe not all the time. But today for her mama.

The scream that left the creature set Ajei's fur and teeth on edge. A ringing continued in her ear long after the creature quieted.

Arrluk got it. She squealed and did a small little dance. And raced forward. But was stopped short by his muzzle.

Oh! Arrluk. You got hurt.

She darted forward to lick his snout. Dodging around the weasels head to lap at the wound.

Oh no.I'm sorry.Are you okay? her words coming out in a rushing jumbled mess.

 Eyes darted looking for something to stem the bleeding. It didn't look bad bad, but face and mouths and heads always bleed so awfully.

Seeing her little dancing steps was enough to make Arrluk's butt wriggle back and forth with how fast his tail was moving. An excitement in her and in his own self which made his heart flutter and stomach flip. An all new feeling in the growing boy. 

She rushed to him, her words and worry reminded him of his mother as she frets about. Settling down the kill, Arrluk licked at his snout now and lifted a paw to wipe it, leaving blood streaked on his white paws. Ah. I'm sure it's fine. Sure was quite a bit of blood though and it did sting. 
Yet, rough housing with his two brothers and being around Kukutux, he had the same thoughts as Ajei. Those parts of the body making it seem like a gory horror scene even if it was just from a mean little weasel.

Ajei was happy they had done what they had set out to do. It hadn't been easy, but they had done well. Especially as a team. 

A glow that would not leave for some time. Also a softer emotion that Arrluk had helped her and done so well. But she pushed it aside for now to focus on his wounds.

Ajei quickly grabbed some cobwebs. She didn't see anything that could be used to ease the pain yet.  Here. Let me see. Uh you'll have to lean down.

She giggled. Their size differences very different at the moment. Once he leaned down. She'd lick at the wound and quickly place the cobwebs.

That will help for now. When we get back you'll have to see your mom for anything that can help with infection and to do a better job.

Arrluk sat like a good little patient, watching as Ajei quickly searched in the woodland around them until she came back with a bundle of cobweb. Arrluk couldn't help his little smirk from her words and lowered his head down between his forelegs, ears sweeping back as she rubbed the weaving onto his snout. He sneezes, trying his damned hardest not to touch his nose but it was itchy! What if a spider was in it! 

He kept his complaints hidden best he could, but his ears back, brow knitted and the way he was going cross-eyed while trying to stare down the bridge of his own said otherwise. Alright. He murmurs. Let's get this weasel back to your mom. He was ready when she was, waiting for her to do the honor of showing off while carrying the weasel back.

Ajei laughed as he smeezed. Her nose and maw wrinkled in small dose of joy. She couldn't stop her eyes from glowing. Increased tenfold by the way he stared diwn at his snout.

Thank you for today, Arrluk.

A brush of head to underside of chin. Then a quick pivot to grab the weasel. She wanted to make sure it was received by Shikoba before it grew too cold.

Of course... His smile grew as she nestled up under his chin and his tail thumped behind him. There was that fluttering he felt in his chest again... Then, quick as a hare (or weasel) she was off with their catch to give to her mother. Arrluk promptly followed, trailing after slowly until he would break away for the ulaq of his own family.