Great Bear Wilderness [wp] naatak ⩄

A party fed Ipiktok’s extrovert nature and the men’s drumming dance gave his spirit energy. As the bellowing laughs and hooting calls waned, the young hunter fell to the side to where the Nuiruk Matriarch stood – shoulders heaving from great breaths, temples damp with sweat.

He ate up the praise, for all Ipiktok wished to be was the brightest light among the Sunshine wolves.

He laughed, rich. “The men of Forneskja danced well!” he praised like a teacher assessing a pupil. “Though no man could say they danced better than Arrluk,” he added with a chuckle. It was true, the orca-man had the strongest spirit of all!

They meandered toward a resting place. There, Ipiktok’s gaze followed Moonwoman’s glance toward a pretty woman with a forested pelt. The mottled agouti of her pelage was reminiscent of a bobcat’s.

He leaned toward Grandmother’s ear. “Do you know that one’s name?” he asked without breaking his leer.