Moonsong Glacier If we run into red full speed

References from here, continuing some of KJ's lore <3 You'll be familiar with that thread hehe!

She tried to bring to her memory the last image she had conjured of the animals. She had listened with sharp ears to the stories her mother passed to her, which had passed through many generations by the time they reached Simbelmyne and her siblings. The most distinguishing feature of course was their fins- something almost impossible to imagine on something that was otherwise described as being somewhat wolf-like, but with small ears, large, round eyes, whiskers like porcupine quills and a body that was round and tapered. Hind legs drawn together in a whale-tail, though having never seen a whale, her image was further confounded by the explanation. In her mind it had existed as somewhat of a cryptid, despite all assurance that unlike the Wendigo and Ogopogo, seals and sea lions actually existed. 

While it delighted her to think she might get to see one up close, she also felt lightly discouraged by the idea that offering the sea lions meat might offend Chakliux. "No secrets, please," Both apologetic and pleading, she hoped to gently reject the notion of feeding the creatures if it would bring disappointment to those who hunted the animals. She would not risk her own reputation for the favour of a man she had only just met, if it meant distancing herself from one she knew if only a fraction more. 

He asked for what contribution he should make to earn a story- and the thought of asking him to consider his willingness to be one of a few considered for her First Rite made her stomach clench. It was an option, of course- and for him she thought it might be a win-win deal. Still; she lived with the notion that such things should be decided by the women of the pack. She felt it was up to someone like Sialuk or Kukutux to decide for her, who would be best. 

She knew so little of these ways- so it seemed best to tread as if on thin ice. 

"You offer welcome, and the sight of seals," A polite acknowledgement of his hospitality would do, she thought. "I am...Not storyteller; just a keeper of words from many generations." Others had been far more gifted with words than she. Thessa, Hyssup and Skip had all taken effortlessly to telling stories and singing songs. 

"My family are sea-people, from Vargas Island. There, are sea lions; but once- long, long ago- both wolf and sea lion were one animal, one creature." She explained. "We, wolves- we come from water, and roam inland; grow long legs, long faces, claws and feet. We hunt deer, rabbit, elk- only keeping some webbing between toes as reminder of our life before." Her pulse quickened; she wondered if he would dismiss the theory altogether, or if he might take some offense that these stories existed at all. Nervously, she continued. "But some do not wander so far; their legs stay as flippers, and they swim and hunt in ocean. They breathe air, give birth to live pups; sun themselves on stones, sleep on ice. Not fish, not whale. Unique," She said.

"So we...For long time, do not hunt sea lions; distant cousins, though they may have forgotten too." She said. After all, she had been warned that they could be violent and dangerous- not to be trifled with. They too had long fangs for catching the large fish that swam in deep, salty waters. "Only under red moon, Hunter's Moon do we hunt. When moon is full of blood of fallen. We consume our past to perpetuate our future," She recited. 

Suddenly, she grew sheepish, as if ashamed by the tales of her folk. She knew Chakliux to be a specialist in seal-hunting, and expected that perhaps the other wolves of the sister packs also viewed the creatures not as a distant cousin, but as a valuable source of food. She summoned a half-hearted smile. "It is...Folk tales. I know seal hunting is important, here." And she was trying her best to accept their ways.