Phoenix Maplewood There'll be things you never asked her

Her response seemed to please him, if the way he smiled and his eyes shone was any indication. Tapeesa smiled back, hesitant but genuine. As Tomkin turned, she moved to his side on soft steps - breaking into a lope as she followed behind. 

Siqiqniq was rising, the southern air growing heavy and thick until it seemed it would smother her. Angakkuq glanced to the clear sky, sending a prayer to her god that they might succeed in their hunt. Dappled patches of sunlight spilled between the trees, turning her coat silver whenever she passed through them. Somewhere, a dove called a morning tune and it echoed back from the center of the forest.

Tupilaq lost herself in the rhythm - the easy thud, thud of her paws striking the ground, the pleasant burning in her muscles, the simplicity of focusing on filling her lungs as she ran. The cathartic run distracted her so that she might have missed his halt, had she not been so aware of Tomkin ahead of her. 

She slowed, padding after him on silent steps as she tipped her muzzle back - sniffing the air for deer. The northerner huddled in the grass half a step behind him, hidden from sight but a flicker of deer moving past could be seen through the grass occasionally. 

The girl's legs trembled slightly - anticipating the hunt to come. Her ragged ears perked up, scarred countenance turning towards Tomkin as he spoke. 

"The buck," she answered after a moment's thought. The buck would feed them and Tomkin said he thought they'd be able to take him down. The mother would live to raise her fawn - provided no other predator saw an end to them - and possibly they'd both make more fawns. It seemed an easy choice. 

"How do we do this?" She glanced up to meet his spring gaze, offering a crooked smile on split lips. He was the one in front, it was up to him to give her instructions on what he needed her to do - it was obvious that the tundrian would do whatever she was asked to.