Ouroboros Spine naluruk

The village blazed in autumn golds and browns, with the louder days of summer's cicadas having died out in the coming cold. Kigipigak enjoyed the shift from chlorophyll-scented paths to the more earthy, musty scents as the fallen leaves mulched under heel. He ran his patrols all the same; in the next month or so the cold would really come to claim the earth, but for now Kigipigak stood out starkly against the transitioning forest.

He had looped back along his patrol and now came to the core of the territory where he knew a cache or two sat, well kept. The man had yet to eat that day and thought to find something there, enough to tide him over until the evening. His mind was on his work, as always; the goings-on of the village over the course of the past few weeks didn't fully register with Kigipigak, who was ignorant to the absence of a first hunter among them, or the dispersal of the captive boy, or much of anything.

The lands had become colder now. Winter would not be far off from them. Though Aiolos was by far any tundra type wolf, he was used to the cold all the same. Living on the coast there was far less protection and cover then the forest and mountains allowed. The cold with straight line winds and the endless dampess from the ocean was a constant, only moreover in winter. Hunting in icy waters always proved challenging.

Aiolos had not spent a winter in a mountainous forestry since Courtfall. He tried to remember what to prepare for, what challenges they may face. He was returning from his own border patrol around the northern half of their territory, closest that of the densites. He was certain with Kukutux, Lote and Sialuk he needed now worry of any of the six pup's safety.

Moving along his home, he finds Kigipigak digging 'around the fridge' for something to eat and woofs out a greeting as he moves nearer.

Picking one of a trio of caches set along the same elevation, Kigipigak stands over one such patch and thinks of the best way to excavate without too much disturbance of the others; he stands like an a-frame over his chosen cache and is about to dig when a woof draws his attention.

I greet you. It isn't his usual blustering welcome Kigipigak used to erupt with, but he hasn't entirely been himself since... Sakhmet.

He isn't bothered by the approach of the sun man, just a little surprised that he would be out roaming rather than visiting with his children, or perhaps training with them. Kigipigak doesn't remember when his own training started — ah, but he had also forgotten, Aiolos was not of the north. His ways were different from Kukutux' and Kigipigak's own.

A bow of his head welcomes the alpha, as well as the low sweep of his tail, friendly in nature. Would you like to share a meal? I was about to grab something small. Or if you are up for it, we could track something fresh? Perhaps he was trying to hard to be of use; a meal could be shared while a pelt could be gifted, all to learn a little more about the man who Kukutux favors.

It was true, the northerners thoughts. Aiolos had formerly had no place to train a woman with anything, being lower then them and segregated with only the men's ranks. He fought among them, training among them in order to get to the top. After leaving that lifestyle, Aiolos had remained vigilant with acting as guardian over the women of his packs and had been sent to train those of Neverwinter Forest too. But having the strict training onto those still yet very young was something Aiolos did not think to push.

The sun man dips his muzzle, his head high but body relaxed, tail down behind him as he comes nearer. I think a hunt would be nice. It would be good to start getting well practiced in hunting mainland game. And here, Aiolos admits his faults.  How could he ever be First Hunter if he could not hunt at least efficiently enough here?

When Aiolos had first arrived, there was but two males here- one who wished for no authority and one who was captive. Moonglow's First Hunter had gone. Now there were many men within the ranks, including Kigipigak here. It left the red wolf to wonder if Kukutux kin would be the next suitable wolf for the position. Time would tell, Aiolos thought.

Kigipigak was glad that his offer was well received. He was glad as well in thinking he could bond with this man, as before he had bonded with Stjornuati, or with the men of his old village, and would not hesitate to make the most of this event. There would be many moments that the men join together for a hunt — rarer than those were the quiet moments between the village leader and any singular person living upon the spine.

To say that Kigipigak was placing too much emphasis, too much weight, upon Aiolos now was not wrong; he saw a way to make the world normalize a little bit more, and perhaps he saw in Aiolos a more suitable father-figure than the old man that he'd left behind, as well.

Smiling, Kigipigak moves to welcome the red-coat as he makes his way.

I have not spoken with the other hunters much, Kigipigak admits while his eyes train upon the path ahead. I imagine they keep an eye on the local herds and possible targets, so perhaps we should find one of them for an indication of where to start. It was not yet known to Kigipigak that the first-hunter had abandoned his post and his family, or any such things, at this point in his timeline.

The red Greek took place at the younger man's side, moving in unison down the path along the outskirts of the territory. When Kigipigak spoke of the other hunters, Aiolos was left to frown, his lips forming in hard line before then answering. Our village lacks its First Hunter. Aiolos kept to side glancing to the other man's way as they moved, gauging his reactions. Adrastus had abandoned his position, along with his wife and new pups.

A silence a moment and then, I don't know how well the herds have been looked over now and my own knowledge is slim. Most of my life has been on the coast, if not an island itself, you see. It is the beginning of explaining the difference of their upbringing and lifestyle.

Aiolos admitted something to Kigipigak, or informed him of this change, and he did not miss a step, but his face grew tense with consternation. The village could survive without a first hunter but it was a terrible affliction to be suddenly without, as they were the one to organize the others. Kigipigak could not recall if he had met this man either, this Adrastus; he supposed then, perhaps this man had abandoned the place long before Kigipigak's arrival.

In thinking of the children of the village, he imagined only Kukutux' own. That there were others born here to a different woman surprised him, but this he kept to himself. This was not one of Tartok's holdings and they were not under the same laws as his people. Such scrutiny would get him nowhere.

Then we will find something ourselves, he answered with a more up-beat tone. Perhaps in doing so we can bring news of the herds back to the village. It will be a blessing if we can fill in what was missed, as we lack a first hunter. This would be a bonding experience between the men — something Kigipigak held in a nearly sacred light.

They were slipping beyond the village limits even now, drifting along the mountain paths, closer and closer to wilderness where they might find clues to such things. In a lower voice, Kigipigak offered a bit of positivity: Hunting is not so difficult when there are more bodies to help. We will find something.

Kigipigak's thoughts of the additional children went unsaid and as time would pass for the pack, only those which were at Lote's den that day or those specifically informed, like Kigi here, would know the truth of Lote's children. For one day Lote's pups would be considered as much Aiolos own as Samani and Kausiut were.

A smile touched Aiolos expression as the northerner was not off put that they did not have a leading hunter to seek out for direction. They held to lead hunter yet, as it were and Aiolos was curious of whom his wife might find fitting next. Would it be the man to his side now?

The other man's voice, filled with a hope, places another smile to the Greek's lips and he nods deeply. Then we won't return until we have! A small chuckle, Aiolos lowers his head to the cold earth to try to pick up a scent of something fresh. Murmuring out as he does so, Maybe one day, we will go to the coast and hunt sea lion or seal there. Aiolos would never miss out on an opportunity to visit the sea and maybe even show off a little skill there, too.

Kigipigak had heard tales of such creatures as this lion, and had at from time to time dined upon the fatty seal, so hearing the man speak of these things drew parallels he was not anticipating. He was not so different from the wolves of the north after all, this Aiolos.

I would enjoy that. My people harbor great pride when it comes to battle and hunting. Especially so in times of peace, a good hunt is the perfect way to prove one's strengths! All that Kigipigak had wanted, once upon a time, was to be immortalized in to stories the way his ancestors had been; it was not something he carried openly now, as an adult, but he grinned and fawned over the idea beside Aiolos.

Before he could go on speaking, something dark and fast shot across the path of both wolves and away, startled by their presence; it had a musky odor and left a deep impression in the soil where it scrambled, whatever the thing was.

Aiolos listens with ginger ears perked and eyes ahead. I am quite accustom to combat myself. He says with much interest. Guardianship was one of main roles of men within my childhood pack and we would spar much between ourselves for choosing.

The red wolf did not quite elaborate, though there wasn't much a time to anymore either. The dark, stocky figure went speeding past the wolven pair and it had Aiolos darting into action.

The young wild pig screeched and Aiolos growled out a bark as he gave chase.

There was an opportunity here, as the boar came tearing by them and away, for Kigipigak to back up his words with action. The redsun man was speaking until the creature came, and then the pair were racing after it, conversation put aside in favor of the hunt.

It was dark and thick, like the boar Kigipigak had hunted with Lane; but this was a smaller one, younger perhaps. It was bold, running so close to the pair of them. It was possible it had not seen them together but Kigipigak doubted this — Aiolos was large and easily seen with his red furs.

The leader growled, and Kigipigak pushed himself in to a gallop, snapping when he drew close enough.

The little pig was swift. Far more so then Aiolos could have given him credit for, despite his stocky and well rounded body. The manner in which he zigzagged around left Aiolos to consistently be just out of the little animal's reach. 

Aiolos was far more used to standing completely still and striking fast. Equally, he needed not run much either when it came to hunting walrus or sea lion. Instead, brute force and large bites for bleed out was best. Aiolos had the stamina but lacked the speed and zigzag agility to catch the animal...

They would have to corner it. Perhaps drive it towards a ridge and off, or in to a copse of trees if they could find it, or -- there was little time to plan now that they were both giving chase to the boar.

Kigipigak saw how Aiolos struggled but it was not to anyone's detriment; it showed where Kigipigak was meant to be, to make up the difference. The other man was large and strong but not fast, and while Kigipigak liked to boast about his own strength or his own power, he was smaller by some slight measure, and perhaps had an advantage when it came to speed.

He was used to hunting alone. Or if anything, being the one in command, rather than the one that gave chase. It was a new experience, giving over control to someone else.

This way! He called as he lunged towards the boar, and redirected it once more. It squealed and ran towards Aiolos and then away from them both, in the wrong direction.

We must corner it!

Aiolos kept pace, unhindered from the run as of yet though still quite out of reach of his target. If the pig managed to get to his burrow they would be much out of luck when it came to this hunt.

A yell from his hunting partner and a lunge at the fat creature sent it diving away, closely to Aiolos self who bit quick at it. Enough to have his front teeth and tips of his canines cut into the wild pig's rump before it changed direction and scampered out of reach once more.

Now bleeding, the pig seemed to run faster- towards the rocky foothills near home. Maybe the pig sought to loose the wolves around the outskirts of the mountains though Aiolos hoped to trap the pig within one of crevices or such here.