Wapun Meadow Infinite

@Indra - takes place a week or so after Lucas disappears

It was nighttime and Nuna quietly got up and sneaked out of the den that was her home, careful not to wake up anyone. Once out of the range of sight, she broke out into a run, loping through the Bearclaw valley forest, past the borders and out in the meadow. There she topped to look around and sniff the air. The initially hopeful look on her face turned into disappointment. Still nothing.

Several days had passed, since her best friend Lucas had disappeared, leaving hardly a trace to follow. She had not been worried on the first day, because at this age most of the puppies were up and about exploring the whole range of territories that were at their disposal. But on the second she had gone out looking for him.

First in every corner of the valley, returning frequently to the renevouz's site to see, if he had not returned during her absence. Then she wandered outside and on the third day found a tuft of his fur in the meadow. And since no one was able to explain to her that he was gone and probably for good, she became convinced that some way, somehow the place was bound with him. And that by coming here, staying and waiting, he would come back.

It was such a fixation of hers that she stopped playing and hanging out with other puppies, she had no interest in the practical lessons of survival, she simply kept coming to this particular place day after day, after day, and began to spend her nights here as well, coming, when others did not notice her leaving.

And now too, after some rounds of taking in new smells and tracks, she setteld down on a small hillock, being on watch for her brother that had to come home.

Indra woke, instinctively prying from that darkness the silhouettes of each child. One missing - no, two.

Lucas’ inexplicable disappearance was grief enough— but seeing how it affected his family was a torment Indra could scarcely bear. Of particular note was Nunataq, who understandably had taken poorly to her brother’s sudden departure.

Tired and heartbroken as she was, she gingerly stepped past the forms of her family and trailed after Nunataq. A cheerless navy night greeted her, and as she walked among the crisp air and silvery stars she felt a familiar gloom settle around her. She knew where Nunataq would be, and joylessly came upon the wrenching scene of the girl faithfully, dutifully waiting for her brother.

Indra said nothing as she drew close; anguished eyes cast down. It would do no good to explain, or say anything. He had simply disappeared and was as beyond reach as the shimmering stars that hung over their bowed heads.

Nunataq heard someone coming, turned to meet Indra's sad face and left the watch-post just long enough to come and greet her. The girl had drawn the connection between Lucas's disappearance and the unhappy mood among packmates, what she could not figure out, whether she should feel the same, whether this was something that was awaited from her.

Because try hard as you might, there was not an ounce of that sadness inside her. No, for her this was a problem that needed to be solved. A puzzle that was incomplete, because one important piece was missing. And her practical mind worked hard to deal with it and come to a valid conclusion. Other than the obvious reappearance of her piebald brother. Maybe in time she would find that answer, but for now - coming here and waiting every day, every night - felt like the right thing to do.

She leaned her body lightly against Indra's and then she retreated, inviting with her gaze to come to the watch-post and wait with her. Perhaps, if the russet she-wolf was with her, this would make things right again.

nunataq had seen her aunt's approach, and greeted her warmly enough. in this indra felt reassured, though the small press of the girl's body was not enough to lift her heavy spirits. indra admired nunataq's resolve in revisiting wapun every night, but she hated the idea of the girl enduring the vigil alone.

for whatever was out there that had presumably taken lucas, might take indra's little dove too.

she didn't know much of what went on in nunataq's head (but she believed plenty did), nor did she have insight to the almost-mechanical reasoning behind why the girl returned here. yet she knew it was important to uphold this tradition, and with a soft sigh looked around them forlornly. nothing but the glimmer of distant stars, and a dark, oppressing night not even the feeble light of the moon could cast away.

and still, no sign of lucas.

Maybe over time - as days turned in weeks and months - the memory of Lucas would fade until he would join the other people that had come and went from Nunataq's little world. She would forget his face and he would become a faint echo of a person that had once been so important to her. And only now and then would some flashes resurface inside Nunataq's mind and she would remember about the problem that had not been solved.

But - maybe - by then she would have learned that sometimes the only solution was to live and let go. And the boy that had run off with the circus, gone to the Neverland or, wherever the lost boys ended up, would be that first lesson among many that would follow afterwards. Life itself would come in the way, every day arriving with new challenges to engage her busy mind and body that constantly craved for something to do.

No matter, what happened in the future or how it would unfold, this happening would always be important in Nunataq's timeline. During these nights that would be spent on the watch, she would leave carefree days of childhood forever behind her.