Wapun Meadow forgo the parable

need some more threads for her hunting trade !! <3

tags as either reference or invitation to join! ;D

nanuralaaq trudged towards the valley with a lack of careful steps. the past few days had been ... rough, to say the least. @Calfuray had started a skirmish on the valley's borders, and the snowwoman suspected that @Ameline would not be too happy with what was practically their newest recruit trying to defend a strange woman who had thrown herself, guns blazing, at @Cole. a sigh rolled off black lips, quickening pace towards the meadow as she tested her scents in the air, dark nose jutted outwards.

she wished to clear her head, too. @Dolce's company would not be turned away, instead it would probably lighten her steps, give them a pep, maybe. @Tvar ... the storm cloud crossed her mind too often for her own liking, and although he was a strong hunting partner, nanuralaaq knew he could not be any more than that. in truth, she had been making an attempt to avoid him, though should he join her she would be civil. perhaps he did not wish to see her, either, and so she would push aside the image of him.

the huntress just needed to live up to her home-given title. busy herself with filling caches, with making sure that no one went hungry once the worst of winter came. she knew that the king and queen of the valley had children of their own, and so she, alongside the rest of the pack, would ensure their health. perhaps all nanuralaaq needed was something to sink her claws, her teeth into and take her fill.

lucifer emerged from the shadows like a wraith, his dark coat blending seamlessly with the muted tones of the trees. ashen gold eyes flicked over the stranger with an unreadable intensity, taking in the slump of her shoulders and the tension in her gait. she was burdened, that much was clear—her thoughts louder than the crunch of her steps against the snow.

he moved closer, each step deliberate, his presence commanding yet oddly restrained. troppe cose nella testa, vero? he murmured, his voice low and smooth, like velvet stretched over steel. too many things in your head, isn’t it?

his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before drifting to the open valley ahead. she carried herself like a wolf torn in two—one part dutiful, the other restless. it was a look that amused him, even intrigued him. 

lucifer’s lip curled slightly, not quite a smile. sei interessante, he said under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself. you’re interesting.

without another word, he turned and padded a few steps ahead, his sleek form cutting through the snow with ease. he glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes glinting with something like challenge. she was a huntress, yes—but one weighed down by things far heavier than prey. for now, he would follow. watching her unravel was a game he couldn’t resist.

deer scent rode the wind, and yet so did another. not of bearclaw, nor of any of the nearby packs whose smells oftentimes wafted towards the valley ; it was a loners, she presumed. a loner who was too close to the packsite for her liking. she noticed, now, that a man stood a few ways up ahead, his head hung over his shoulder, watching her.

nanuralaaq had never been afraid of strangers.

snowwoman gave a bark, loud and commanding, a warning to not move as she bounded through the snow with a practiced grace, brows furrowing. she did not like a man of no affiliation this close to the valley, not when their were children and mothers there ; as well as ancelin, the only father, based off of what she knew. with a rising voice and a loud call, she said: you approach the lands of bearclaw valley, tail stood high.

still, she wished to hunt. perhaps this man wished to be her prey.

lucifer turned fully as her bark cut through the frosty air, his golden eyes narrowing with faint amusement. he remained perfectly still, an imposing figure against the snowy backdrop, his tail low but swaying lazily as though her display of authority barely registered. she moved with purpose, her voice sharp and commanding, but he met her words with a crooked smirk.

the lands of bearclaw valley, he repeated, his tone rich with mock reverence. such a warm welcome. truly, i feel invited. He let the last word hang in the air, his voice dripping with tease.  

his gaze swept over her, sharp and calculating, before returning to her face. and here i thought i was simply following the deer, he continued, his tone dropping to a smooth murmur. but now i see i’ve stumbled across something much more interesting. Una regina di neve.

lucifer shifted slightly, his posture remaining casual but deliberate—an unmistakable confidence radiating from every move. tell me, mia regina, he said, his smirk deepening, do you always hunt strangers so boldly? or is it just that your valley has such... exceptional hospitality?

I’m came a voice of rolling thunder The Regina here, She drew forward, her ice blue eyes becoming whirlpools that caught the man in their tempestuous pull. 

She had been trailing Rala, in hopes of joining her for a hunt so that she could once again measure the woman’s skills. The sound of voices lifted over the brambles and bushes that had obscured her view. Rala’s voice had been calm, measured- but the man’s had the same silken hiss of a coiling snake.

An’ while we are hothpitable enough, but we don’t share hunting groundth with thnarky vagabondth like you. She moved to Rala’s side, so they might stand shoulder to shoulder like a pair of lionesses.

ameline had joined her in this ... uncomfortable standoff, and a flood of relief washed over the smaller woman. nanuralaaq did not like the tone that this stranger carried, calling her interesting, regina, a title only fit for the woman beside her now. my regina is right, she said, now, as ameline's words hung heavy in the air. you leave, now, a pale nosebridge wrinkled, teeth flashing in a display of threat.

snowwoman would not attack just yet, not until he returned the hostility that was visible in her body, in every vein and every muscle. nanuralaaq's tail would flick against ameline, then, in what was both reassurance and a note to stay on alert, for a loner slinking around a meadow that was quite clearly a claimed hunting ground was a man that may not fear anything at all ; and that would make things much more difficult.

another growl spilt from her dark lips. leave, while you can still walk.

lucifer’s smirk didn’t waver as the second wolf arrived, her presence regal and composed in a way that shifted the energy between them. his golden eyes moved from one to the other, and he gave a small dip of his head in acknowledgment.  

ah, he murmured smoothly, his voice low and rich, la vera regina. he let the words hang in the frosty air, his gaze returning briefly to rala with a faint, almost apologetic lift of his brow. my mistake, he said lightly, though the glint in his eyes suggested he wasn’t entirely sorry.  

her growled warning made his ears flick forward, catching the sharpness of her tone even if the meaning needed no translation. he took a slow step back, his posture still loose and relaxed, though his gaze never left the pair.  

i mean no offense, he offered, though the faint curl of his lips hinted at anything but deference. your lands, your prey—i'll leave it untouched. a compliment to your vigilance, regina, and to your... spirited guard.

lucifer began to retreat with measured steps, his dark form blending with the snow-streaked shadows. but perhaps, he added, his voice softer now, almost a purr, next time we meet, it will be over more... neutral ground. a simple thought. 

he paused, giving a final glance over his shoulder, his molten gaze locking with ameline’s. addio, regina, he said, his tone dipping to something almost respectful. then, with a flick of his tail, he disappeared into the winter’s embrace, leaving only the trace of his scent behind.

lucifer barrelrolls awayy

She assumed that whatever he said- his tone lightly accented- translated to “the very Regina” so she nodded, as if she understood and hoped that she wasn’t making a fool of herself. Conviction made for an excellent sidearm. Rala to have learned her lesson about dangerous visitors, and remained steadfast at her side. 

She didn’t like the look of him, the coy sparkle in his eyes or the half-asses apology that seemed more than a bit insincere to the woman who was quite easily offended. He reminded her of one of their former members- whose name she had since forgotten- who had come and left, and come crawling back promising loyalty, only to flee again. She had no interest in wasting time on that sort.

Fortunately- this one didn’t seem inclined to tax her for her time, and was clever enough to read their body language and take his cue to leave, though not without issuing something of a creepy invitation which earned a low growl from the Regina. 

He left. She watched him go, and huffed once he was out of earshot.

Well, She said, and shook her pelt out thoroughly enough that several dark strands of fur fell into the snow. Fuck that creep. Let’th find thomethin’ to eat, huh? She proposed. If nothing else, their track would establish their hunting claim on the area.

she did not like his slimey words, his smirk, nor his meaningless apologies. the next time she met him, she would be putting his tail where his mouth is, and that was that. he took his exit, then, and the regina's words were like music to nanuralaaq's ears. she stood straight, now. yes, came a nod of her head, somewhat amused at the saying 'fuck that creep', and making a note to adopt it into her lexicon of the commonfolk. as ox hunters would say, iqittiniq, an almost-pride among her face as she said it.

lifting her dark nose to the air, then, rala noticed the faintness of deer upon the breeze, and so she would begin moving, looking back to ameline when she would say: deer came through here, ah, few hours ago, and returned her gaze forwards, searching for tracks, hairs, or any disturbed shrubbery that could speak of their return.

as a huntress, her teeth yearned to be sharpened. to be bloodied.

There was something satisfying about learning an insult in another language. It caused Ameline to warm, and crack a grin that revealed more of her teeth, up to the stained gumlines. She flicked her tongue over her lips, wetting them as she switched into hunter mode, though amusement still showed itself in the buoyancy of her stride. 

Hmmm, She murmured, an acknowledgement of Rala's note on the deer herd. She paused to sniff a cluster of alders, where the tips had been chewed off the low-hanging branches. The wounds were still fresh; Rala was right. They might tathte more gamey thith time of year, but, She said, and inhaled. I kinda like that. Without access to green grass and leaves, the deer would be stripping cedar bark from trees, buds from plants, and nibbling on whatever dried grasses they could dig up through the snow- the change in their diet changed their taste. What'th okth tathte like? She asked, as they moved onward.

gamey taste was what the arctic woman was used to, as the lands of muskox plains were an almost constant winter ; limited nutrients, asides from where the paths met the rivers and lakes and the plants came to life, verdant and emerald, where many herds went to feed. rala gave a nod, and when the regina asked of muskox taste, she said: the scent is more ... powerful, then the taste. they are named muskox for their smell, especially when they begin to breed. the meat, however, is very juicy. satisfying. keeps us healthy when there is little sunlight and cold tempratures ; thickens our furs.

there was something longing within her heart as she spoke. something that seemed reminiscent of ... homesickness, almost. benefit of health is more important than taste. good to savour, but, also good to be able to eat at all, you know? nanuralaaq looked towards the regina for a moment. there is lots of famine, where i come from. any sort of meats are appreciated, no matter taste or texture. anything to keep us alive, once more, she turned her gaze away. keep us strong, you know?

she would allow ameline to lead the way, following alongside her. once they came upon the deer, nanuralaaq would provide assistance to her queen. to the lady of the valley.

Her whiskers flattened against her cheeks when she pulled her lips back, scenting the ground. The word musk was unappealing; she assumed, then, that the creatures had a foul odour- something oily, perhaps. The arctic tundra wouldn’t have swamps, she thought- so they might not smell boggy, like moose. She couldn’t imagine them smelling like skunk either- that scent would deter the wolves…Though it didn’t sound as though they could afford to be picky.

Yeah, you’re right, She said, though she felt grateful that she lived in a climate where the food tasted great. Rala spoke as a wolf who had possibly gone without, from time to time- in the long nights of winter, it must have been a cruel thing to endure. I feel like I’ve been thpoiled in comparison, She chuckled. Starvation had never been a huge concern. Here, it was trespassers that were more of a threat. Their own kind could be as cruel as a harsh winter.

You’ve had theal too? She asked, remembering that Rala had mentioned her mother’s people. I like fish…It mutht tathte fishy, eh?

nanuralaaq was quick to shake her head: only spoiled if you do not appreciate what you have ; everyone has ... different situations, does not make one better or worse, unless blatand disregard for the things we are given, a careful roll of her shoulders, watching ameline track their prey. she, too, would drink in the scents.

seal, well ... it is salty, fatty, too. some, little bit sweet, depending on where they swim. others, almost like ox, like ... eh, bison meat. really depends on what part of sea they are from. many come to gather on our shores. some, too, very oily. their skins make good pouches for carrying water long distances, a knowledgeable tone.

with a hum, then, she said: but many do not come straight to the shore ; they are loud, blubbering creatures, but they are also intelligent, and so they know wolves will come to eat them if they dare to come too close. instead, they lay upon nattiup iglinga, a slab of thick, slippery ice that is only safe in the highest of winters. it is where children are tested for their hunting skills, and where they earn their names, nanuralaaq took a breath ; once a snowflake, now a polar bear.

shallow tracks drew her forwards, now. they were faint upon the snow, but ever-present nonetheless. snowwoman gave a flick of her tail. look here, regina, a nod.

Appreciation for the kill.

It wasn’t something Ameline had grown up with; no words were given for the animal that had given up its life. She knew to eat everything that could be eaten, but bones and pelts had not been useful to her until lately- when she saw how other wolves used, treasured and traded them. She had yet to process a pelt that did not begin to smell within a matter of weeks- but she had no one to teach her.

Y’know, that remindth me— a bunch of caribou hunterth pathed by the valley not long ago. She admitted. Left behind a pretty good trail of killth…They go where the caribou goeth. She said. You evuh met them? The tracking of herds seemed to be a specialty of hers- perhaps she had crossed paths with these people too, people who shared that lifestyle. 

She listened to the description of seals, and found them perhaps the most appealing. Salty, fatty meat- and that came as a bit of a challenge? While she had absolutely no desire to risk plunging into frigid winter sea waters, she was nevertheless interested if the same creatures might be found along the shore, in the summer. With no ice, they might have to.

She was about to ask more about them when Rala spotted tracks. She sidled alongside the hunter, and bumped her shoulder against the other’s, lightly. Good. She said. Let’th figure out how many of ‘em there are…Then we’ll go back to the Valley, an’ bring back reinforcement-th.

we can tidy this up if you want- their discussion will pass for trade application!

caribou hunters? the words caught her attention, pale ears flicking upwards as her eyes seemed to twinkle with some sort of distant recognition. but then she remembered - they were within the teekons now, and these were no snow-kissed paths. of these lands? no, i would not know them. if they are civil, perhaps i would like to meet them, but if they proved hostile, nanuralaaq would keep her space.

when ameline spoke of reinforcements, the huntress nodded. she merely gave a soft yes, before offering a friendly flick of her tail before swivelling on her paws so that she may assume the path back to the valley. oh, how her bones yearned for the hunt.

fade <3