Qeya River her mother doesn't approve

Something had changed.

The nausea had not subsided in the mornings. There was also an additional fatigue upon her. However she often did her best to not show this. Instead she...busied herself.

Helped with the tasks that Lane might assign her, still enamored with her husband as usual she dotted upon him in private and searched the areas nearby when it seemed appropriate. They had wanted a slice of the north, no? Perhaps she might be the one to discover their future haven.

It was @Kigipigak that lingered in her mind those precious moments along the river, despite the fatigue in her bones and the thoughts of a home. Chunks of ice built up, if they did not float downstream. It was a wonderful sight despite the rather (literal) cold nature of it.

How funny, she thought, that she had become one with the north under her husband's love and care.

Knowing that something had happened to Rivenwood, given that the girl Druid now recovered at the glacier and that there was a plan in place to intervene, distracted Kigipigak from what future plans he had once thought about with Sakhmet.

He journeyed now to find his wife, as she had taken time to herself away from the village. Her scent had begun to change in a way Kigipigak did not understand and so he thought little of it; but he came upon her soon enough.

Brushing past her, drawing his eye along the riverside and back to where she stood. Keeping a weather eye out for dangers, now that he knew there were raiders about - or something of that effect, worrying him.

He was never far and so it was to be expected that he'd be here. Melted into the snow right from her thoughts. His company would always be welcomed, though.

Except as his eyes watched the lands before returning to her, hers watched him fully. Fondness and adoration. Concern and worry.

What's on your mind?

Her pale moon gaze drifted out to the lands beyond the river. The streams, the woodlands. She wondered if his thoughts might appear there. As if she could pluck them up without him having to speak.

She drew close. Warmth, eternal.

Her question was met with a sigh, and he could not look at her. Kigipigak looked to the glacier beyond them while he ordered his thoughts.

Rivenwood. The place was further south. Heda's warring with him, and the news that there had been a raid there - carried by Druid to the glacier - weighed on him.

We seek a home that is safe. A place for us to settle. I do not want to worry over the dangers here, knowing a friend was.. was raided.

It was the kind of behavior Kigipigak understood as a wolf of Tartok; he would have been proud of himself if he had been brought on such an excursion, yet hearing it from friends and from the other side of the conflict, that put a damper on his spirit.

He nosed in to the woman's ruddy fur and breathed, letting her presence pacify his mind. If we were the target, I would fight. I would protect you with everything I have.

Rivenwood. Raided.

She frowned, a sharp features on already pointed features. She does not like what she hears, but it is the truth. It was news she must hear and have settled into her mind. Sakhmet had never dealt with a raid. Although she had been old enough to remember how her first home had become unsafe. Granted that had been from forces far larger than any raid group.

I know. She breathed softly, sought to brush her muzzle against his chest. Physical reassurance.

I don't want you to have to fight, though. I want a safe start with you. If we must...find somewhere further, we will. Anything for us.

To keep them safe. To keep them together.

She would not lose him to a raid.

YOUR AVATAR!! I am le gasp. OMG and the reference on her profile is mwa chefs kiss.

I will not run. He answered, fire in his belly. Kigipigak did not know if he felt angry with the insinuation or not; if he was drawn to ignition by her proximity and the strength of his love for her, or something else.

The concept of fleeing this place had not entered his mind. He was cautious of what might happen if they stayed, yes. He was worried that the raiders might find them and take advantage, as it was only the two of them. At the same time if a battle came, Kigipigak was not going to back down from it. He would disgrace his ancestors if he let such a thing happen.

Sighing, pressing against her greedily, Kigipigak tried to ease out of that war-bound mindset. It was not right to let Sakhmet suffer through a mood darkened by this new stress. He kissed her, instead. Are you hungry?

thena did sooooo good ;;

She would not argue with such a fiery statement. Sakhmet had not meant to imply that they would flee like preyed upon deer. Only that they would be strategic and make a move before they needed to flee but...

Alas.

She opted to relish in his affections instead. Peppered him with a few kisses in return and welcomed the question that lifted some of the pressure in this atmosphere.

Always, Breathed out with some sense of humor laced into her words. Show me how you hunt in the north, hawk-in-snow?

She had not forgot the name Kukutux had used for him when they had reunited the first time.

When things got rough, food was the answer. Hunting proved to those he cared about that - well - he cared. That he would put in the work. It kept his mind off of other things, too.

Sakhmet must have sensed the need in him. The way he sought purpose; she agreed to hunt and the young man was glad to have her there with him.

Kigipigak took off sharply from her side. He had a thin smile upon his face. His movements were sweeping as he pulverized the snow and made little effort to conceal himself. Their game of chase might draw something from the riverside.

Their movement did rip something from the snowy earth.

A hare, pale against the snow but its movement gave it away. Far from its warren. A mad dash to escape from the wolves that loped the riverside.

She hopes that Kigipigak sees it too, the sharp hunter that he is.

Another one darted too, quick to flee with its counterpart.

A pair of rabbits twinned through the snow before them.

Kigipigak picked up speed as the land tilted downhill, slid on some ice, and rounded towards the two of them with a powerful intent.

One rabbit veered away from him and towards Sakhmet while the other, perhaps oblivious to the white wolf, continued straight.

She would not waste this opportunity with the one that cut onto her path.

Quick to chase after it in hopes that Kigipigak would dash for the other.

Even if he did not, she was on the heels of her hare. Teeth clipped at its ankle, the first drawing of blood from it as it squealed and dashed further.

Wounded, a trail behind it.

Kigipigak came upon the rabbit on the straightaway and culled it quickly, tossing its body aside as it rag-dolled. He turned to follow after Sakhmet and saw the red in the snow, the red that trailed her red, and for a split second thought she had hurt herself or that something might be wrong - so he threw himself from a trot to a canter, full of purpose, and saw the rabbit spin on its heel awkwardly and dash further. It would soon escape from them and Kigipigak could do little to help at this distance.

No,

A panic fluttering up into her chest. Food is scare here and to be bested by a rabbit wouldn't do.

She kicked into a mad dash, hunger and desire mixing into adrenaline as she snatched at once more. This time the leg remained in her grasp and the rabbit hung from her jaws by its ankle with shrill sounds.

She would waste no time in seeing that it was silenced.

Sakhmet saw what needed to be done if they were to eat.

She moved swiftly to make up the difference, which both worried and impressed Kigipigak; and her success was won in short order. The rabbit barely made a sound as she sank her teeth in to it. Kigipigak was proud to be the witness to this moment.

He slowed and then turned, returning to the place where he'd killed the first rabbit so that he could gather it in his teeth and make his way back to her. His lungs burned from all the running but Kigipigak knew the feeling would abate. All he could taste now was the fresh fur of the rabbit and the strong taste of blood upon his tongue.

His tail was a high banner as he joined Sakhmet, placing his kill down nearby to her own, and breathing a satisfied sigh.

fade? <3

Success, sweet on her tongue as the blood lingered on her tongue.

She carried herself a bit higher now, pride seeped into her bones. It was a small kill but they had done it. They would feed themselves and this was the proof of it. Two lifeless rabbits laid side by side.

Kigipigak at her side only riled her further. Seeking to nip feverishly at his cheeks and chin, a proud rumble in her throat.

Celebration.