Wapun Meadow seek the light,

tvar mention for plot reasons .. crying cat emoji ..

it was at the meadow's edge that the snowwoman sought the company of @Dolce, tilting her head back in a howl as hunger grasped her weary stomach. to hunt side-by-side the man of which she wished to court was one of the early steps of any womans decision, and so today would be the day that she tested his skillset and made her choice.

though something heavy, something sorrowful hung within her chest, she knew that, should this day go well, it would be dolce that she would choose. though @Tvar reminded her of home, of her father, of the mountains that had protected her family for generations and of the storms that rained over the muskox grounds, nanuralaaq wished not for familiarity, but rather for something unknown. for the warm, open plains that dolce seemed to carry with him. for the sunlight and the fire that she had yet to love.

and so she called for him, now, hoping her decision would be the right one.

hoping that this man could one day provide for the children she wished to have.

early mornings were now often spent on patrol. it kept him busy, focused. following unfamiliar scents, perhaps scaring off the occasional band of coyotes. and while on these treks, he'd have time to think. to hope. 

rala was on his mind more often than not. not so much as burden, though a distraction. a welcome one. whenever he'd crawl out of the den they'd built him together, oaken eyes would sweep, searching for her. admiring her as she slept, or just checking in. 

an obligation. although she wasn't his, that wouldn't stop him from the duty he now felt necessary to be beside her, to ensure she's safe. a protectiveness had stemmed, deep and primal. he hoped to show her that he could be a good man, be the man she deserved. even if sometimes, he didn't believe it himself. 

he wouldn't linger on the wrongs he's done, not when that melodic howl of her pierces through the cold wind. calling for him. and he comes when he's called; he always would, for her. 

dolce finds her at the edge of the meadow, all pretty and soft-like in the sun. still a vision; a snow kissed queen, surveying her kingdom. he announces himself with a chuff, before he's striding up to her side, gently nosing her shoulder. 

he would have to be a fool, not to notice the way tvar's scent no longer lingers. and while it fills him with selfish satisfaction, he's also noticed her sorrow. the way she wouldn't smile as vividly as usual, the way her voice was distant, quieter. 

while the decision she was to make may have been in his favor, it was with her heavy heart. and subsequently his; he wouldn't mourn for his rival, but for her. he wouldn't mention the man's name; he'd simply be there for her, the best way he knew how. 

"you called, darlin'?" he rumbled, nose skimming from her shoulder to her nape.

and so the man of sunlight and warmth would arrive, and when his nose would skim across the back of her neck, she would turn her head back so that she may tease at his jaw with a gentle kiss of a dark nose. i did, she hummed, voice laced with an arctic tongue. piugijaq, and she would move away from him, then, scenting the air.

i wish to hunt today, nanuralaaq revealed, moving forwards as she followed the faint scent of a deer. it was far, as usual. it seemed they seem to gather in the spaces of the meadow that were further away from the valley, though she supposed that the frequent visit of the wolves who lived there would certainly freak them out. snowwoman turned her head over her shoulder, now, and said: and i wish for your help, dolce.

her trek continued, now, tail waving, though her pace slowed so that the southern man may take the lead. a gentle nudge would be all that she gave, curious to see how such a shared activity would pan out. curious to see his teeth sink in to something.

a hunt, with the woman he wanted to provide for. to prove his worth to. the whisp of a kiss he received was met with a deep, pleased rumble, before it was gone and she had set off. before he'd scented the deer himself, he followed, snow crunching beneath his weight. "yes ma'am." he chuffed with gruff mirth, before he turned his nose skyward. 

taking the lead, dolce would guide their way toward the scent. slowly it became stronger; with each step, the muscle beneath his fur shifted, tensed. a hunt was easy, but to please her? he'd give it his damndest try.

quiet was the trek until that scent was strong, and just ahead in the meadow grazed a young buck. it'd be quicker, tougher, faster, but together they'd overcome. "you ready, dove?" he'd murmur, a mere rasp. oaken eyes drifted towards her, warm with affection, promise. she was a swift huntress, no doubt. 

with her approval, he'd surge forward into a brisk run, strong limbs leading him to barrel toward the buck. it bleats, startles, before stotting away, kicking up a cloud of snow in its wake.

he was quick to take the reins, to lead her along the meadow, following the scent and allowing her to simply remain by his side ; and so she would, keeping very little space between them, nanuralaaq would ensure that her plush white pelt would mingle against his every step of the way. she would say they were 'shoulder-to-shoulder', had their sizes been less varied. for a moment, she peered up to oaken eyes, but did not say a word.

it was up ahead that a buck stood grazing, seemingly having pushed aside whatever snows may have gotten in his way so that he may pick at the grasses and the flowers that laid underneath winters carpet. and again, she would look towards the man besides her, this time meeting a gaze that was filled to the brim with affection, and she could not help her eyes creasing with a smile in response. always, she answered. i am known as huntress for a reason, a mischievous tone, raised brows and a twinkling humour.

and his movements are swifts, spooking the buck into dashing away, though dolce did not slow, nor tear away from the hunt, and so snowwoman was quick to follow, tail lashing behind her as she did. for now, they would simply wear the ungulate down. soon, then, she would sink her teeth into flavoursome flesh, and she would share a meal with the man who she hoped to soon, one day, become her uinga. protector. hunter.

caretaker, she hoped. for she wished to have many children..!

but she blinked the thought away, returning to the hunt.

"ain't never had a doubt 'bout that, dove. 'fraid you might leave me in the dust." came his response with a slight uptick to the corner of his lips. his eyes were warm, assessing; eager to watch her. to hunt at her side, to witness her prowess. a hunt was something every wolf was familiar with, an instinctual knowledge carved into flesh and bone. but a hunt to prove himself a worthy partner, well that was new territory. 

he'd never backed down from a challenge; he would prove himself a worthy provider. he would show her that her choice, should she make it and should it favor him, wouldn't be a mistake. 

and so he pushed himself harder, faster, determination scrawled in his features. jaw set, the ache in his bones a faint whisper in the back of his mind as they took chase. the buck would slow in the deep blankets of snow. it'd tire quicker and when it did, they'd secure their kill. 

as they ran, dolce could not help but admire her. the way her fur was windswept, the liveliness in her eyes that made him feel soft. she would be his; he'd hunt and kill any prey or predator to ensure it. 

the deer's stotting slowed, and the pair gained ground faster than it could run. with a rumbling growl, dolce surged forward to snatch a hind leg into his jaws. teeth sinking into skin, flesh, then crushing bone with a satisfying crack. it thrashed and bleated, but it would not escape.

smirk upon her face at the evident praise, she would allow his words to linger between them, offering his flank a flick of her tail and then falling into a comfortable silence as they pursued their meal. she could feel her eyes upon him, and so she would not shy away, rather sending him a short sidelong glance with a raise of her brows before focusing back to the task at hand. for if he was too busy admiring her, how would they eat? though such a thought was amusing, it would also not be taken too lightly.

deer begun to slow, faltering, and the growl that rumbled from dolce's lips for, but a moment, stirred something deep within her chest. something that powered a drive within her ; and so she sprung forth, taking the opposite leg and holding down. his bite was admirable, the loud crunch of the broken bone causing rala's hears to flick towards him with an almost shocked expression, though she did not quite know why such a firm grasp caught her by surprise. perhaps, it was because he was so gentle with her.

bleating, now, the deer let out a call, falling to the ground. nanuralaaq pulled back for a single moment, this hunt passing by quicker than she had expected, and moved to latch on to the furry neck of the ungulate. impressed, thus far, with his expertise, she only needed to see him make the final blow that would bring down the creature. then, she would have made her choice, and together, they could dine.