Ouroboros Spine Shampe

The sky was overcast; there had been rain but not a lot of it, and the smell lingered.

Mojag watched the clouds from outside of the ulaq. He had been tempted to visit the other children next door, but something had drawn his attention away.

First the gathering clouds, then the scent of @Inutsuk. Even that did not hold his attention for long, as it was growing unfamiliar. His mother was the ever-present force in his life; his father, who was something of an enigma to Mojag by this point, was not as concrete.

He'd been away most days, finding more solace and comfort busying himself, rather being cooped up in the ulaq he shared with his family. He loved them dearly, let there be no doubt; but, everyone needed their space, even from loved ones.

After a short morning run (in addition to a few, quick pauses to mark the borders), Inutsuk returned to ulax. There, sitting before the entrance happened to be his son, Mojag.

Son. He greeted, ears perked in adoration. 

It felt as though every time he saw his son he had grown twice as large since the last. Time passed quickly.

Skygazing? The tawny man questioned, drawing near to settle beside Mojag.

Startled by a sound, Mojag looked up in time to spot his father on approach. He watched the man with some hesitation; wanting to be his usual excitable self, and also skeptical of this being who he recognized in a vague sense.

The man looked up as he mentioned the sky. Mojag tipped his nose up and stared at Inutsuk's jawline, then behind him at the sky.

Skahgaah?

You'll have to forgive the short length of my posts. Inutsuk is very timid and awkward around children, thus, he doesn't know much of how to interact with Mojag. He's learning XD

Inutsuk stifled a small chuckle. He couldn't help but be slightly amused at the boy's attempted word. He had almost forgotten the time it would take before all words could be understood and mimicked back.

It is something I have always enjoyed doing. Perhaps, you will take this trait from me.

Then, he looked back and gave the boy a soft (or as soft as he could) nudge against his small shoulder — a feeble attempt to arouse some playfulness in his son.

His father moves to nudge him. It is similar to how Shikoba shows affection or Lote urged play from him, so he reads it as both, and is content to be the center of the man's focus.

Anaa showed me rain! Mojag announces with a happy prance around Inutsuk's legs. Is skahgah like rain? The man was looking up at the sky where the rain lived, so to Mojag this made sense.

Inutsuk chuckled softly, watching the pup prance. 

Rain comes from the sky, yes. But beyond the clouds, there is sun, moon, and stars. All are out of reach, but beautiful to look at.

Perhaps the child could not fully understand these words just yet, but he would... soon.

Hearing his father talk of the sky drew all of his attention. Mojag's mouth became an O of wonder while he stared up at the stars, transitioning his gaze between the sky and his father and back, enthralled.

Clow... Sumoo... stahh...

Sky! There was so much in the sky and Inutsuk knew the names of everything! The boy was developing an understanding of the world but also an appreciation for his father, which was leagues more important.

Laughter pealed from him and broke apart the stillness of the moment. Mojag's eyes were wide and full of stars, though at the center was Inutsuk's silhouette.

Taataa! More! He wanted to know it all so he could tell Anaa later.

He couldn't help but smile. The child had so much eagerness to know all, even when being so young. This would prove useful as he grew into a hunter.

Sun comes when it is time to wake from slumber, as moon falls when it is time to sleep again. Usually, the stars will shine bright when the moon beckons, but sometimes clouds appear in both day and night. It is nature's way of saying our eyes need rest from the bright rays. And when the ground below us requires to quench its thirst, the clouds will bring rain when it is warm. Then when winter comes, they bring snow, another, colder form of rain.

Inutsuk tipped his nose downward, looking to see if Mojag had been following all he'd said. Then to continue.

The moon travels in cycles. Sometimes it may appear small, half eaten; and others, it appears big and full. The sun, however, does not change shape, but it does change in intensity. When the hotter season is here, it will gravitate closer to us. But when the season is colder, it will travel further away.

There wasn't much more he could teach in this moment, as much as he would rather have gone on. All he could do was hope that this much satisfied the young mind and sought out questions on a topic perhaps he knew a little better.

His father knew so much! Mojag was happy to listen even if he didn't understand it all. He knew of the sun (the word brought to mind Aiolos), and the moon (Kukutux), and when Inutsuk mentioned the rain he laughed and nodded, thinking of his mother Shikoba. He remembered fondly their time together while the rain came and darkened her coat.

Mojag did not like the thought of someone taking bites out of Kukutux, but oohed at the thought that Aiolos would make the world warm. The boy wondered how that worked. Clearly he was too imaginative for what was being taught at the moment.

Snow? He didn't understand what his father meant. Rain, but not rain? That was like Inutsuk - he was like anaa but also different. Tataa yike snow? Cue head tilt.

Yes, snow. Inutsuk nodded. Perhaps he needed to elaborate. Rain is a form of water that comes from the sky. When it is too cold for rain to fall as it would in warmer weather, it freezes and becomes snow.

Did he like snow? Well, he really had no preference. But he knew who did, which invited a small laugh.

I do not mind it. Anaa, however, isn't a fan. She has shorter fur, wheras mine is thicker. I am warmer than she when winter comes.

The concept of temperature didn't really mesh with Mojag's brain. He tilted his head back and forth as he listened to his father but that did not help. His life so far had been warm and bright and easy, which were not the same as what Inutsuk described.

He explained why anaa disliked the snow and Mojag could at least understand it had to do with her furs. The boy's furs were thin too, so he imagined he would be the same. Of course in time his body would change and perhaps he would learn for himself.

I has warm fur! Mojag announced, puffing out his chest and then stepping triumphantly forward, plunging his feet emphatically in the dirt.

He looked up to Inutsuk after. I wanna see snow! Tataa give snow!

The demand of the child had been far too absurd. Again, Inutsuk would forget Mojag's age and turn to scorn him. But when looking upon his son, he remembered with a sigh.

Shaking his head, the tawny man shuffled his feet against the ground. I cannot bring snow. And it is not yet winter. Winter has passed. Until the season comes again, there will be no snow. You must be patient. It will come again, and then you can see it for yourself.

Would this be enough to satisfy the boy? He could only hope; for if not, a simpler reason would need be stated to make him understand why snow could not come.

A look crossed his father's face that Mojag was not old enough to recognize, so it went without reaction from him.

The words that came next made him sad for a split second - his ears appeared to deflate sideways, his eyes looked a touch glossy; he murmured a snotty little "oh," but overall Mojag accepted that his father lacked the requisite power.

Otay. He announced next, and looked up at the sky again. With his eyes full of stars reflecting in the pools of his transitioning irises, he forgot all about the snow for now.