Moonsong Glacier mistmantle

listening soberly to the dictation of a message that she did not want to take to kukutux, chickadee nodded softly, commiting even the way that dutch had said these things to memory.
but his specific mention of she and kivaluk paused the young wolf, brought her green eyes up in surprise and perhaps another emotion.
another pack with moon in its name? her sister's voice asked archly in her mind. what followed was not shame but — defiance, chickadee rising to the event horizon of her life.
"I'll tell her." she was lifting to her feet, watching his face. "and I'll talk to kivaluk." how would he feel about this place? it was so new. would he feel that any touch of his father remained? would he feel obligated to clean up another abandonment — oh. maybe she would hold off on saying anything until kukutux addressed it.
chickadee feared the pain and anger which might touch her intended now.
"dutch." his name had been stamped in her mind from the memory of that day, where he had complimented her but she'd been too distracted by the kids to truly know. "it will be all right. there are still four of us villages, and brecheliant also. even if they're n-not coming back, we can make everything work." hopeful. youthful. she offered him a smile but was intending to go now unless he had more to say, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.