Big Salmon Lake I moved to california in the summertime

Merrit waited in the coolness of the evening without worry that Kallik would come. He had worried at first, when they had first dispersed from one another to better scout these lands. But even now as the sun sank down to sleep, and Merrit caught sight of his cousin's silhouette against the fiery sky, he remembered how much of a man Kallik had become. That it had already been a year since Nanook had given her life to save them, to save him.

He met his cousin with a chuff in response, and affection in his eyes, as he let his gaze follow Kallik to where he settled beside him on the ground. Merrit took a long moment to appraise him, this boy, now man, who had been his charge when they'd set out, and had become his equal, much like he imagined a brother might be.

"What do you watch for, when you look at the stars?" he asked, turning his own face towards the darkening sky.