Bramblepoint aŋayukłiq

it is almost hard to believe that once upon a time, the dynamic between them had been so different. kigipigak had once stood on a pedestal above and all other mortals — but so had sakhmet. he had idolized them so much, once upon a time ... and perhaps that was why the believed to be betrayals hurt him so bad. spikes that dug in so deeply, imbedding themselves into his bones.

the fortress of towering rock and ice that kivaluk stands high above on the battlements of are simply to protect him. shying away from getting too close.

he wants to be immovable, to be cerberus guarding the gates of the underworld: an imposing force of nature with slavering jaws and snapping teeth made for crushing bones; uncaring about things as trivial as sentimentality ( even though he clearly does ).

is it? the question slides betwixt his teeth like a scimitar loosened from scabbard. a visceral reaction, no thought to buffer it, to catch it. though it may have twisted on his lips to sound patronizing, it is genuine enough:

did kigipigak enjoy being a father? and if he did... was it just to his newest children?

so far, kivaluk enjoyed being a father even if his children were not yet old enough to comprehend much ... but they were growing more mobile by the day. soon, they would be much harder to contain and herd together like wayward kittens.

i enjoy being a father, he admits in the graveyard still moments after. though they don't do much right now. they felt so fragile at this stage, which only heightened his paternal instinct to protect.

chickadee is well, yes. likely eager to leave the den for more extended periods of time. her parents have been more than gracious. he admits, to the point that it almost pains him. welcoming their den to the young couple with three squalling babes, and elevating kivaluk to leadership so soon after his arrival...

it is a debt he will spend a long time paying back.