Duskfire Glacier δ

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she did not want to go. "regnvand," came low thunder in the cavern of his chest, and he followed, intent to still her working hands with his own touch. he was free here atop the glacier with her, more wild than he had ever been. and it was in this feral foedom where he had learned the secrets of warring men.

he and ayovi had no debt to each other. but this faust stood firm and demanded the cold to do his bidding. a warring man waited until his enemy was weak. skorpa would not see any bitter axeblade raised rusty overhead.

"ayovi." he tried to seek her eyes again, if she would let him; he pointed to his crude drawing and then flung a brawny arm in direction of the first mountain where the silent woman roamed. to the valleys cut there, to the ridgelines and snow steppes farther from where they now stood but not without glory.

the unknown path was to forge in danger alone that which might be a fortress in a manifested future. he did not want to go either; he crouched in the snow and watched ayovi until she understood. a pack would be safe, not pleasant. moving from the warrior's core did not mean he would not pursue. but they had a compromise. he wanted to be sure it was not her desire before he began to search for an encampment of his kind.

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