Redsand Canyon i was walking through icy streams

Nanuq might have laid there exactly like that for the rest of the day, or at least until mother collected him for feeding time, if Kallik wasn't there. No one would know if he was awake or asleep unless they dropped their heads down to peer into his eyes, and that was kind of how Nanuq liked it. The less he had to do, the better the day.

He reacted to his father, though, with a slow and sleepy turning of his head in the soldier's direction. His ears flopped at the sides of his head, lifting momentarily as a reflex rather than a reaction. If he really strained, he might be able to make out the hint of a whisper of sound, but it would be days before it was loud enough to notice, and longer still before his hearing reached max strength.

Nanuq shifted slowly to his slide, then completed the roll so that he was belly-up, tucking his paws against his chest and staring with half-lidded eyes up at his father's grey chin. His tongue flashed pink against his lips in a quick, interested lick of his little chops.