Ouroboros Spine mother and son

tagging @Fennec if okay!

They wandered away from the shore, Killdeer feeling worse and worse as he strayed away from Cal. Still, he was making his mother happy.

They climbed the slopes and found the border markings, sniffed, and Killdeer howled, giving his mother a nudge. Perhaps this was a place they could live—or at least an ally, should they settle nearby.

He tried to survey the landscape through the trees. He couldn't see much.

Tired—emotionally and physically—he sat on his ass.

Fennec could tell that something was off with Killdeer but hadn’t pried. She was tired too… and that weariness wasn’t unrelated. If he was upset to be leaving, and leaving anyway, then she was no stranger to that. It was just another example of someone who loved her putting “her needs first” and then eventually resenting her for it.

All while she begged them, repeatedly, just to be honest.

She couldn’t force him to tell her the truth so she had to trust that he had really been fine leaving. And now she would have to trust that whatever home they found would truly make him happy, but the sense of things between them had sparked that unease. And once triggered it became harder to ignore.

A border? She caught the markings, but before she had time to ask, Killdeer howled. She didn’t know where this was, or how close to his dad, but she assumed he had his reasons for wanting to speak to someone here. So she waited quietly next to him, ears trained for an answer.

She spent time in Moonglow after her newest siblings were born, leaving Moonspear in the many capable paws of her people. Sialuk was thankful for them, glad that there was little reason to worry if she needed to break from the tall spire from time to time. She had been heading back, missing the slopes and her own ulaq, and it was by chance that her path led her to the call. Sixsix circled above, Sialuk rarely leaving the village without him.

To her surprise, she found none other than Fennec and a younger man at her side. Fennec, she greeted, her voice warm. It had been many months since she had last seen the strange healer, but it was she who had spurred much of the Ostrega’s early spiritual development. To the younger man, Sialuk laid her eyes on him openly. Did he belong to Fennec? And in what way?

The biggest surprise was finding a woman apparently knowing his mother, and he stepped back a couple paces, head cocked.

We came to see which pack was here, Killdeer explained, but he gave way to his mother. Do. . .you two know each other?

The wolf who greeted them was a silver vision, one who captured her gaze, and he found himself drawn into her orbit as he waited for someone to speak. His vision went dizzy, and he struggled with his footing.

He was, again, enamored.

Oh, shit, she actually did know that voice. The fact that it knew her name was the tip-off, but while she’d definitely forgotten the name, she wouldn’t forget that inflection.

It’s been a long time. You were the one with the raven, right? Who lived on the mountain? She didn’t directly answer Killdeer’s question, knowing that request for clarification would do it for her. More specifically, she did add for his benefit, I trained with their healer for a while. Kukutux. Before the mountain pack was destroyed, at least.

She’d kind of assumed they were dead.

The young man had his eyes upon her in a way she had seen from many men and women. It could have meant many things. Perhaps he knew that with Fennec unable to see, he was free to look about openly. Maybe they had a more open arrangement as Sialuk and her lovers did. Or it was possible that they were merely friends. All of these, and not once did Sialuk consider they may have been related. Why, she could not say.

Mmm, she said to affirm Fennec’s question. Kukutux leads village Moonglow here upon this ring of mountains. A pause, a flush of pride. Moonspear holds village once more. My village. Sixsix circled his way downward, coming to perch on her shoulder. He carried no bone today, but he looked quizzically at the two others before preening his feathers.

His head cocked, further, to lock eyes with the bird that sat upon her shoulder.

Fennec and this woman were familiar.

He glanced at his mother, despite the fact she couldn't see. Is there room in your pack? he asked.

He knew they wanted something of their own—but Killdeer didn't know how to do that. He'd always latched onto others' projects. And if Fennec already had a connection here—

We're looking for somewhere to stay, he offered freely, shrugging. He gave the young woman a smile. I'm Killdeer, son of Fennec, he said, with a gesture toward his tawny mother.

Fennec was surprised on two counts. The first was that they’d resettled the mountain. The second was that Killdeer seemed interested. She’d thought his goal was in founding something, but it seemed she’d been wrong.

It was hard to remember with all that had happened between now and then. She felt like an entirely different wolf. She’d mentored this girl but hadn’t even bothered to commit her name to memory… if she remembered correctly, at the time she’d thought most of what she taught was bullshit. Now she didn’t really know what she thought.

She considered if she should protest, but ultimately decided not to. If Killdeer liked it here then she would have no complaints to levy, and the canyon had shown she could manage extreme terrain if she needed to. A mountain would be incredibly dangerous but at least she’d be able to scale it eventually.

With Fennec on Moonglow’s doorstep, not Moonspear’s, the request felt strange to the starwoman, but perhaps he was tempted by what he saw. And Fennec had not known all that had happened after the strange storm that scattered the former village, taking many lives with it.

Ah, and he was her son! Sialuk felt more at ease knowing this. No longer did she worry that a boundary might be crossed with the blind woman.

Sialuk, daughter of Kukutux, she replied in kind. If there had been a time when Sialuk knew of Fennec’s relation to Meerkat, it had long since slipped from her memory. Village Moonspear could be home to both mother and son, if you wish. The journey from here was short, and Sialuk was had been on her way back home.

He looked back at his mother, questioning. He supposed a mountain wasn't much better than an island or a canyon. He didn't know how to gauge how she was feeling. 

Can we discuss it? he asked Sialuk, smiling genially. My mother. . .she needs a safe land to navigate, he said, and looked to Fennec. No offense.

Do you have that here? he asked. His face was calm but insistent.

There were worse places than the Moonspear. She hadn’t recognized this, but Bronco would be nearby if that was the case. She wouldn’t be able to bar him from entering, but she wouldn’t bring that up now. It was a boundary she’d wanted, and not having it sucked, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. She’d find other ways to avoid him.

It’s up to you, Killer. If the Moonspear sounds like a good place, I’ll be fine. I’ve been there before. She’d lived in the Glen, and not on the mountain, but her only outright no had been the island. Aside from that, where they lived was one hundred percent his choice. She had no reason to assert her own.

Im going to have to sort this somehow with timelines depending on how the convo with @Penn turns out so I’ve been vague on purpose lmao, but I’ll likely not respond again until that resolves just in case

no worries! sialuk wouldn't want to pressure them anyhow. <3

The starwoman understood, and let Killdeer know with a simple nod. The village will be there if it is your desire to join, Sialuk said. She wished to give them space to discuss without the pressure of time. It is the tallest of the range, she said, followed by a gesture toward the towering peak. She would not take offense if they did not arrive, though she was glad to have run into Fennec after all this time.

Fennec, it was good to see your face again, she said, waving her tail gently between her hocks. Sialuk departed them, and Sixsix took to the sky, leaving the mother and son time and space to discuss the next step of their path.

He'd been wishy-washy, and that might have cost them a home. Not the ideal home, anyway, but a home nonetheless. Before he could reply to Sialuk, she departed, and the two of them were once more alone upon the mountain slope.

We'll think about it, Killdeer remarked, shrugging. We'll see other places and see if they're better, or worse. . . We've got time. Right?

He'd let his excitement trip him up over his own forepaws. A lesson learned.

fade here?

We do. She confirmed, hearing the self-doubt and wanting to settle it. She reached out to attempt to ruffle his fur affectionately, then turned and began walking back towards where they’d meet Penn. I have someone I want you to meet anyway. An old friend; someone your dad and I knew. Maybe he’ll come with.

It would be better to ask, but she wouldn’t get her hopes up. Penn wasn’t exactly the staying type from what she remembered. Neither were you. She resented others holding that against her so much, but she still couldn’t bring herself to think he might have changed. Not yet.

She would answer any of Killer’s questions as they went, summoning Penn when they got to the place she knew he was waiting near.