Ouroboros Spine tunusisak ⋘

"you must go to the home of chickadee's mother and father, and ask what work or goods they wish, to show you are serious in your intention."

she was speaking to @Kivaluk, enjoying a warmer wind this day.

"after this, we will invite them to our village. there are many steps. but they will be swift, and you will be married before your eye blinks."

kivaluk draws in a nervous breath as kukutux tells him what is expected of him; glad that he has already met her father ... even if their meeting had been brief. still, did little to settle the butterflies battering relentlessly 'round his skull; battling the what if's which mostly revolved around whether they'd accept him as their son-in-law.

their approval was important and not just to the process of courting.

understood, kivaluk replies. when should i begin the trip to brecheliant?

"when you are ready."

"you will take these." a paw, lifted in gesture toward two smooth pieces of deerskin, supple leather beneath and meticulously cleaned fur overtop. "they show the skill of moonglow and yours as hunter. leave them in brecheliant as sign you are certain."

she looked at him, fondly; he was handsome and a true northerner, and she saw in him much of sakhmet as she saw kigipigak's melancholy.

so long as he held his roots, he would be a good husband to the young bird-woman. perhaps she might balance kivaluk.

in his nerves, when the time came, he would forget the deerskins and likely butcher the whole tradition ( oops ) but for now, he gives a firm nod.

he draws in a breath and lets it out slowly, thinking through his words; sorting out questions of which he has many.

what happens if they don't accept me? from the questions, he chooses the most pressing. for while he was confident in himself and his abilities, he always held onto that shadow of doubt to keep himself grounded.

"then i will speak to them, and sun man will share words also. we will make them see. but she has chosen you, kivaluk. all this then, it is only words."

only words.

and their ulaq had been made in moonglow, not brecheliant.

a soft frown tugs at kivaluk's lips; though he is grateful the extent that his mom and the sunking will go for him there is a part of him that is ... uncomfortable with the idea of them speaking to the leaders of brecheliant on his behalf.

ideally, chickadee's parents would approve on their own terms. even, at their own time.

he draws in a contemplative breath. i'm appreciative, mom but ... kivaluk pauses, mulling on his words. shouldn't they approve of me on their own terms? at their own time? he gives voice to his thoughts.

and if they never did well ... he'd cross that bridge when and if he came to it.

"this is not to press upon them, no, not at all, my son. but they do not know us, and i have not seen their faces. you are our son, she is their daughter. if they do not accept, perhaps it is only because we are strangers to them."

but in this, she saw kivaluk's heart; she smiled in pride at him for thinking first of their minds and not of his desires.

he has misunderstood, and though a soft sting of embarrassment heats up his face, he is also, more so, relieved. kivaluk shifts his weight; contemplative.

that is true. i did not think of that.

"but you did think of them. if they do not ask for a price, i will set one for you."

her face was warm upon him. already they lived as husband and wife, but for this she would ask.

kivaluk offers a soft nod, contemplating her words and attempting to untangle the burden of his worries from them. he finds it good to compartmentalize them: her wisdom and his nerves. chickadee's family means a lot to her, kivaluk says quietly, sure that kukutux already knows this. this, i understand. for the moonwoman and sunking both meant so much to him.

either way, i will do my best.

"i know that you will."

"go to chickadee. and then go to brecheliant, sivullik."

this must be underway.

her heart was pleased to plan another wedding, to hold off its wounded ache with celebration.