Nimbus Summit We're gonna look at the stars

no rush! just wanted to get this started so they could work on being official :D

Tuulu sat nervously outside the den @Lane had claimed for her medicines. Earlier in the day, @Ensio (reference) had helped him lug the giant elk antlers there; they were from a successful pack hunt not too long ago. He had been reminded of his conversation with the moonwoman—he had wanted to give Lane a gift and she had suggested a rack of antlers for drying plants. 

So he sat next to the present now and called for his beautiful partner. Even though she had agreed to be his mate already, there was still the slightest bit of anxiety that asked: what if she says no now? He drew in a deep breath and pushed the thought away.

Spring had sprung, and Lane was a busy woman. It was the prime time for harvesting most of the plants that she used in her practice, and for restocking her stores of dried herbs that she kept for the less bountiful seasons. 

Lane trotted toward the chink in the side of the mountain that she had unofficially claimed as her workspace. The cave led down to the underground hot spring where Lane had taken to brewing her saiyu recipes. 

Caverna dei Vitale, Lane called it. The Cave of Life, very roughly translated. She'd never been much for linguistics. 

Lane made her way to the Caverna to check on her raspberry tea, thinking she might see what a little ragwort would do for the recipe. When Lane arrived, Tuuluuwaq was there to greet her. 

"Well hey there, Mister Beta," Lane greeted him with a cheeky smile. She sidled up to him and brushed against his side in greeting. "Come for a swim in the hot spring? I have an idea for how to make it extra steamy--" 

Just then, she noticed the rack behind Tuuluuwaq, and she gasped out, "Oh wow! From the elk we hunted?" Tuuluuwaq had been at peak performance on the day of the pack hunt, as Lane recalled. She'd nearly been gored by this very rack, she'd been so distracted watching her lover's every movement.

He greeted her with a smile, his expression turning heated and intrigued when she mentioned the hot springs. The mental picture of that almost made him forget why he was here in the first place—almost

But then she saw his gift and her face lit up; he remembered how nervous he had just been and his heart picked up. Tuulu liked when he could put that look on her face, though. I had Ensio help me bring it in here for you, the Tatkret explained. You can use it to dry your plants; hopefully it will make things more efficient for you. 

The new beta stood then and moved to run his nose along her jaw. He took a small step back and swallowed nervously. I wanted to give you a gift. He wondered if she could hear his heart racing or scent the adrenaline dumping into his bloodstream. He was psyching himself out now, he knew that. So he just continued on, meanwhile he worked on convincing his mind that this was just like any other conversation he had with her. Lane, I want to officially ask you to be my mate, he finally got out. To spend the rest of your life with me. He drew in a deep breath and pushed it out. Then he watched her expression closely and waited for her answer.

Lane smiled, touched by the efforts of Tuuluuwaq and Ensio. It was not lost on her that Tuulu still watched out for the boy, just as she had asked him to do when he first arrived in Duskfire Glacier. 

"It will be perfect! I can't wait to try it out..!" So many possibilities! It was a thing a beauty even bare as it was now, and once Lane draped it in stalks and leaves...

Tuulu spoke again, redirecting Lane's attention back onto himself with a gentle caress to her face. He had a strange look on his features: happy, but also a bit like he had swallowed a frog...

Lane's jaw dropped when he finally got his proposal out. Sympathy quickly overtook her surprise: he looked so nervous! "Oh, Tuulu!" Lane whined, leaning in to hug him close. Did he really think it was even a remote possibility that she would turn him down? 

"Easiest decision in the world," she told him, pulling back to meet his chocolate gaze. "Yes." She beamed. Her life had improved in every way since she had come to know Tuuluuwaq, and she couldn't wait to see what the rest of their years had in store for them, the Tatkret family. 

She embraced him again, and she would hold him until he stopped trembling, and his heart stopped racing. Eventually, she would ask, "I have something for you too. Do you want to see it?" Excitement shone in her amber eyes.

She was more than pleased with his gift, which filled him with excitement. She couldn't wait to try it out, which told him that it was the perfect thing to get for her. He would have to thank the moonwoman the next time he saw her. 

Her reaction to his proposal was even better. When she embraced him, he felt his nerves slowly die down. He kissed whatever part of her he could reach first. 

Relief killed the last of his anxious energy when he heard her accept his proposal. She said it was the easiest decision in the world. He had no words. He felt a little silly for being so nervous and he was absolutely elated to know that she would be his mate forever. He couldn't help but imagine them, years from now, with tons of children. He would keep that fantasy to himself for now, knowing how undecided she was about having more children. He wanted her for her, even if that meant their family would only be the two of them. 

But his mind was spiraling. He was brought back when she mentioned having something for him. Really? he said with surprise. Of course I do, kuulti. Tuulu stood and gave her cheek a soft kiss. Lead the way.

After casting one last look over her shoulder at the beautiful elk rack, Lane smiled at Tuuluuwaq and beckoned him to follow. She led her new husband in a southward direction, every now and then bumping against his shoulder in an amiable way.

Husband. 

She now had a word for him that could encompass everything he was to her; in her opinion all the previous terms-- crush, beau, lover, boyfriend-- had fallen woefully short. 

Lane led Tuuluuwaq to the grassy meadow just south of the Summit. They were still within Atautsikut lands, but this area had the benefit of being flatter, softer, and greener than the rest of their claim's the rocky terrain. As they entered the meadow, they would pass evidence of the infrastructure that was under construction: piles of rocks, vines and briars collected near the entrances, ready to become the fortification that would seal off the meadow from the rest of its surroundings. 

"@Antha is leading the women of Atautsikut in the construction of this meadow into an artlathan. It will be a place dedicated the protection and care of women and children." It was to be a place of love, happiness, and safety for all of Atautsikut. Lane couldn't think of a better project for a pack whose name translated to all together. 

Lane led Tuuluuwaq to a small hill inside the arlathan. As they approached, it was clear from the various piles of dirt scattered that there were dens under construction. 

"Each mother will dig their den into this hill, so that the children can be raised here communally." Lane noted. As she spoke, she carefully avoided eye contact with Tuuluuwaq. 

"Over here," she continued, directing his attention to one of the dens under construction. "It's not much yet.. but this one will be ours," she said, finally meeting her husband's gaze a little shyly. "For our children." In case he needed any more clarity about what she had decided. She couldn't contain it; a small, giddy smile started edging into her expression as she waited for Tuuluuwaq to respond.

He followed her silently, unable to stop from reaching over and nuzzling her anytime her shoulder brushed his. He was happier than he had ever been, and now she was giving him another gift. 

They arrived at a meadow, and Tuulu could tell work was being done. It seemed as though someone had been busy, and he wondered why he had not been asked to help. But when Lane began to tell him of the purpose of this place, he understood. He thought the place was perfect

They moved next to a hill where he could tell dens were being made. His wife explained that each mother would make their own den and that the children would be raised communally, like a big family. Tuulu loved the idea; he could picture his nieces and nephews here and then couldn't help imagining what it would be like to for his and Lane's children to be raised with them. 

When she led him to one den in particular, he was confused at first but he waited for her to continue. And then she told him it was for their children. His eyes widened and a smile spread across his face. Our children? he asked. She wanted to have pups with him. His heart felt like it might explode. He pulled her close and kissed her face. Lane, he whispered. It is a perfect gift. He knew she had not been sure before, but now she was sure she wanted more children with him. He felt like the luckiest man in the world.