Redhawk Caldera meadowlarks

they take some paths that kivaluk is familiar with; haunted by the first hunter as he follows and tracks the herds ... and then they took paths that were new to him. foreign. his tracker's gaze points out landmarks of interest as they cut their way to brecheliant.

he hesitates but follows her as she leads the way down the caldera.

at the bottom she is rushed at by two males, each calling her 'dee' and he stands, a bit awkwardly as the older of the two spares him a look and feels relief when he is ultimately skipped over ( at least for now ).

until the younger male asks point blank if kivaluk was her boyfriend.

his ears flush with heat, remembering ( fondly ) the tangle of their limbs during their race and the urge he'd had to kiss her. that feeling hadn't gone anywhere but he hadn't thought this trip was the time to think or talk about it.

i'm kivaluk. he offers in introduction, not denying or agreeing with the question.