Duskfire Glacier [m] Village song

She grunted in turn to him, one ear flicking as she continued her approach. They two had never needed words to understand one another. A reaffirmation—yes—you, here. 

His touch did little to ground, though ordinarily it would; Tikigâk was, at her tempered moments the day prior and the coming days to follow, an unlit fuse—he was the match when alive with flame. To touch turned her into an explosive thing that need not tick to warn when the end was near. 

But it was true that she hungered for meat, too—and the word hunt seemed to suspend detonation as she was reminded of the caribou tracks they had only just crossed. Tikigâk blinked, remembering—it was lucky she did not know the meaning of the word “fuck” even in the context of what was spoken, nor was she bright enough to understand the implication of it, else she would have forgotten again, and the hunt would have needed to wait until he quelled the flame he ignited. 

Tikigâk pressed forward. Her keen nose picked up the trail easily, though it helped the caribou were not so far and the tracks were fresh. Still, even had they not been Tikigâk was an exceptional tracker—sooner, later… they would be found. Fortune was good this day—she may not need to wait too long. 

She did not look to him, either… but she did not need to, to know the way in which he moved. Tikigâk could see it in her minds eye as she heard his gait—the expert way in which he moved, knowing every inch of the domain he had claimed. Hers, now, too—he had made it so. 

Tikigâk had not yet moved to make him bleed. Not yet. She wanted him, these first few days, at his fullest strength it seemed—unfatigued from the battle, virile, whole and hale. Tikigâk was gladder for it now, too—they were in prime condition to hunt. 

She remained aware of him, still wordless, and growing quieter still. Her own lope became near-soundless as they drew nearer to their prey, paws splayed upon the earth. Tikigâk remained infinitely aware of the man she now called mate (for to her, the question was not a question of if she would make him bleed, but when), one ear turning toward him.