Whitebark Stream upon one summer's morning

a low snort of amused agreement leaves kivaluk before he can stop it. it's only in the hairsbreadth of aftermath that he regrets it with a small stab of guilt; but interestingly enough, does not offer an apology for it. she was rough around the edges and it didn't take kivaluk long to reach that conclusion even before she stated as such.

but you don't have to live rough. kivaluk points out after a moment of consideration. it wasn't his place to offer her a home among them but as she was already ( temporarily ) staying with them he didn't think it was that big of deal. i'm sure if you want to stay with us my mama would let you. again, it was an assumption he had no right to make but in a stubbornly childish moment does all the same.

yeah! he chirrups when she offers a hunt, tucking away her tidbits of information about cougars and bears; hoping he would remember. what're we hunting? he asks eagerly.