Wapun Meadow seek the light,

tvar mention for plot reasons .. crying cat emoji ..

it was at the meadow's edge that the snowwoman sought the company of @Dolce, tilting her head back in a howl as hunger grasped her weary stomach. to hunt side-by-side the man of which she wished to court was one of the early steps of any womans decision, and so today would be the day that she tested his skillset and made her choice.

though something heavy, something sorrowful hung within her chest, she knew that, should this day go well, it would be dolce that she would choose. though @Tvar reminded her of home, of her father, of the mountains that had protected her family for generations and of the storms that rained over the muskox grounds, nanuralaaq wished not for familiarity, but rather for something unknown. for the warm, open plains that dolce seemed to carry with him. for the sunlight and the fire that she had yet to love.

and so she called for him, now, hoping her decision would be the right one.

hoping that this man could one day provide for the children she wished to have.

early mornings were now often spent on patrol. it kept him busy, focused. following unfamiliar scents, perhaps scaring off the occasional band of coyotes. and while on these treks, he'd have time to think. to hope. 

rala was on his mind more often than not. not so much as burden, though a distraction. a welcome one. whenever he'd crawl out of the den they'd built him together, oaken eyes would sweep, searching for her. admiring her as she slept, or just checking in. 

an obligation. although she wasn't his, that wouldn't stop him from the duty he now felt necessary to be beside her, to ensure she's safe. a protectiveness had stemmed, deep and primal. he hoped to show her that he could be a good man, be the man she deserved. even if sometimes, he didn't believe it himself. 

he wouldn't linger on the wrongs he's done, not when that melodic howl of her pierces through the cold wind. calling for him. and he comes when he's called; he always would, for her. 

dolce finds her at the edge of the meadow, all pretty and soft-like in the sun. still a vision; a snow kissed queen, surveying her kingdom. he announces himself with a chuff, before he's striding up to her side, gently nosing her shoulder. 

he would have to be a fool, not to notice the way tvar's scent no longer lingers. and while it fills him with selfish satisfaction, he's also noticed her sorrow. the way she wouldn't smile as vividly as usual, the way her voice was distant, quieter. 

while the decision she was to make may have been in his favor, it was with her heavy heart. and subsequently his; he wouldn't mourn for his rival, but for her. he wouldn't mention the man's name; he'd simply be there for her, the best way he knew how. 

"you called, darlin'?" he rumbled, nose skimming from her shoulder to her nape.

and so the man of sunlight and warmth would arrive, and when his nose would skim across the back of her neck, she would turn her head back so that she may tease at his jaw with a gentle kiss of a dark nose. i did, she hummed, voice laced with an arctic tongue. piugijaq, and she would move away from him, then, scenting the air.

i wish to hunt today, nanuralaaq revealed, moving forwards as she followed the faint scent of a deer. it was far, as usual. it seemed they seem to gather in the spaces of the meadow that were further away from the valley, though she supposed that the frequent visit of the wolves who lived there would certainly freak them out. snowwoman turned her head over her shoulder, now, and said: and i wish for your help, dolce.

her trek continued, now, tail waving, though her pace slowed so that the southern man may take the lead. a gentle nudge would be all that she gave, curious to see how such a shared activity would pan out. curious to see his teeth sink in to something.

a hunt, with the woman he wanted to provide for. to prove his worth to. the whisp of a kiss he received was met with a deep, pleased rumble, before it was gone and she had set off. before he'd scented the deer himself, he followed, snow crunching beneath his weight. "yes ma'am." he chuffed with gruff mirth, before he turned his nose skyward. 

taking the lead, dolce would guide their way toward the scent. slowly it became stronger; with each step, the muscle beneath his fur shifted, tensed. a hunt was easy, but to please her? he'd give it his damndest try.

quiet was the trek until that scent was strong, and just ahead in the meadow grazed a young buck. it'd be quicker, tougher, faster, but together they'd overcome. "you ready, dove?" he'd murmur, a mere rasp. oaken eyes drifted towards her, warm with affection, promise. she was a swift huntress, no doubt. 

with her approval, he'd surge forward into a brisk run, strong limbs leading him to barrel toward the buck. it bleats, startles, before stotting away, kicking up a cloud of snow in its wake.

he was quick to take the reins, to lead her along the meadow, following the scent and allowing her to simply remain by his side ; and so she would, keeping very little space between them, nanuralaaq would ensure that her plush white pelt would mingle against his every step of the way. she would say they were 'shoulder-to-shoulder', had their sizes been less varied. for a moment, she peered up to oaken eyes, but did not say a word.

it was up ahead that a buck stood grazing, seemingly having pushed aside whatever snows may have gotten in his way so that he may pick at the grasses and the flowers that laid underneath winters carpet. and again, she would look towards the man besides her, this time meeting a gaze that was filled to the brim with affection, and she could not help her eyes creasing with a smile in response. always, she answered. i am known as huntress for a reason, a mischievous tone, raised brows and a twinkling humour.

and his movements are swifts, spooking the buck into dashing away, though dolce did not slow, nor tear away from the hunt, and so snowwoman was quick to follow, tail lashing behind her as she did. for now, they would simply wear the ungulate down. soon, then, she would sink her teeth into flavoursome flesh, and she would share a meal with the man who she hoped to soon, one day, become her uinga. protector. hunter.

caretaker, she hoped. for she wished to have many children..!

but she blinked the thought away, returning to the hunt.

"ain't never had a doubt 'bout that, dove. 'fraid you might leave me in the dust." came his response with a slight uptick to the corner of his lips. his eyes were warm, assessing; eager to watch her. to hunt at her side, to witness her prowess. a hunt was something every wolf was familiar with, an instinctual knowledge carved into flesh and bone. but a hunt to prove himself a worthy partner, well that was new territory. 

he'd never backed down from a challenge; he would prove himself a worthy provider. he would show her that her choice, should she make it and should it favor him, wouldn't be a mistake. 

and so he pushed himself harder, faster, determination scrawled in his features. jaw set, the ache in his bones a faint whisper in the back of his mind as they took chase. the buck would slow in the deep blankets of snow. it'd tire quicker and when it did, they'd secure their kill. 

as they ran, dolce could not help but admire her. the way her fur was windswept, the liveliness in her eyes that made him feel soft. she would be his; he'd hunt and kill any prey or predator to ensure it. 

the deer's stotting slowed, and the pair gained ground faster than it could run. with a rumbling growl, dolce surged forward to snatch a hind leg into his jaws. teeth sinking into skin, flesh, then crushing bone with a satisfying crack. it thrashed and bleated, but it would not escape.

smirk upon her face at the evident praise, she would allow his words to linger between them, offering his flank a flick of her tail and then falling into a comfortable silence as they pursued their meal. she could feel her eyes upon him, and so she would not shy away, rather sending him a short sidelong glance with a raise of her brows before focusing back to the task at hand. for if he was too busy admiring her, how would they eat? though such a thought was amusing, it would also not be taken too lightly.

deer begun to slow, faltering, and the growl that rumbled from dolce's lips for, but a moment, stirred something deep within her chest. something that powered a drive within her ; and so she sprung forth, taking the opposite leg and holding down. his bite was admirable, the loud crunch of the broken bone causing rala's hears to flick towards him with an almost shocked expression, though she did not quite know why such a firm grasp caught her by surprise. perhaps, it was because he was so gentle with her.

bleating, now, the deer let out a call, falling to the ground. nanuralaaq pulled back for a single moment, this hunt passing by quicker than she had expected, and moved to latch on to the furry neck of the ungulate. impressed, thus far, with his expertise, she only needed to see him make the final blow that would bring down the creature. then, she would have made her choice, and together, they could dine.

oaken eyes shone with admiration, with approval, as he watched his dove attack the felled deer. it crumbled to the snow beneath their combined weights, though its cries were merely white noise. metallic ichor flooded his maw, and with wicked satisfaction, he wondered if he'd severed an artery. dolce would release the grip on the creatures frail, mangled hind limb as soon as rala had latched onto its neck.

a deep red stained his maw, quickly swiped at by his tongue, before he was lunging forward again, his docked tail high above his hocks, the fur along his spine bristled with adrenaline. powerful jaws parted as he latched onto the creatures jugular, his heavy paws pressing down heavy upon the deer's ribcage. heavy enough to creak bones, to threaten to break more. 

she was waiting for him to make the final blow, and who was he to keep his woman waiting? teeth sink into flesh, and once his jaw is locked, he gives a harsh thrash to it's neck and squeezes. there's a pop, a wheeze, before the prey falls still beneath them. 

with a rasp, he drops it's neck, his chest heaving from exertion, his wild eyes searching hers. she looks beautiful then, her usually pristine fur stained red. he wouldn't dive into their meal until she did; a courtesy he didn't think he had within him.

and so he made the final move, the last bow of their wild dance that brought the ungulate crashing down onto the snow, both wolves panting from their kill. she looked to him, then, to her man. a choice had been made, now, and she studied him carefully, smiling. with an air of mischief, she would say: aggakkut, red looks good on you.

nanuralaaq would wait for a moment, two, three, until his stillness encouraged her to take the first bite. bending her neck down, she would seek the perfect spot with her nose, using sharp fangs to tear away the deers flesh. a shared meal ; one that would not go forgotten, one that played a large part in what rala hoped to be a shared future together.

she ate in silence, but should dolce speak, she would respond ; always.

a bloodied smirk made its appearance. "y'do too, dove." he rumbled in approval. he watched with satisfaction as she ate; a primal feeling, one of accomplishment. he'd proved he could provide, and he would until his bones gave out. while her decision may have just been made, his was solidified long ago. she was his, and he'd be hers. 

he sat beside her, his tail swishing in the snow beneath him as she ate her fill. he wouldn't touch it, not til' she was full and sated. happy, strong. his head tilted—there was that nickname again, the same one she'd called him long ago when they'd first met. she'd promised then, that she'd reveal what it meant. 

"y'never did tell me what that means. y'gonna keep me hangin'?" he chuckled as he lowered his muzzle to caress her snowy shoulder.

eyes widened for a moment as she enjoyed their meal ; his recollection of her promise was sharp, as if it had hardly been almost a moon since their first meeting. she swallowed, then, and smiled, though there was nothing coy about it. instead, she raised her brows, jutted her chin forwards, and gave him a sidelong glance when she said: it means 'handsome', already entertained by the thought of what his reaction may be.

she stood, then, no longer hungry, and moved away from the deer. careful steps carried her to the opposite side of the man that sat beside her, using her nose to preen at the fur upon his neck, cleaning the excess blood from his maw with gentle kisses. careful.

do you like it? rala's tone was low, then. quiet.

whether she was asking the of nickname or her actions was unknown.

"handsome?" a deep bout of laughter rattled in his barreled-chest. in all his days, he never would've imagine any woman would find him handsome, let alone a man worth hanging around. a roguish smile he wore then, and perhaps he puffed his chest, emboldened. it was new, but it certainly wasn't unwelcome. "darlin', ya might make a beast like myself blush." he teased, a glimmer of playful affection in his dark eyes. 

his hunger was forgotten as he was then showered in her gentle kisses. a deep rumble of a purr left him, an unwinding of tense muscles. he tilted his chin to allow her to preen more of his fur, bloody or not. he wanted more. more nicknames, more kisses, more her.

there was a pause then, a holding of breath. there was a question he'd been eager to ask. scared, too, but he was tired of tip-toeing, especially when she was here showering him with her affections. it made him feel reckless, bold. willing to give himself to her, all the good bad and the ugly. 

"rala," he started, his tone more serious. a certain conviction. he craned his neck downward to nose beside her ear, his voice a deep rumble. "i ain't ever been much of a romantic, and i haven't been a good man. but you make me want to be better. to do better, for you. if you'd have me, i'm yours." he exhaled heavily. his heart thundered in a way it never had, but he decides he likes the feeling. 

"i've been yours since you first called me aggakkut. and if you ain't ready, i'll wait."

her question had not caught her by surprise. if anything, it felt like a replicant of the thoughts that had been spinning around her head, too. she smiled, now, his breath warm against her ear. you are mine, aggakkut, her words were soft, lilting, as she moved her maw so that she may pepper kisses amongst his jaw. as i am yours. i am ready.

dawn-hued eyes met his of ambered bark, seriousness and affection mingling into something new, unfelt ; something unknown, a feeling that had never swirled with this sort of intensity, rattling against her chest like a caged bird that wished to be free. i do not care for what sort of man you once were, came her conviction. only for the man that you are, now. for that man that you may become. i will have you, dolce, and you will have me. for as long as the deer roam and the seasons change.

a breath, then. a gentle smile. a careful nod. you will have me.

his. she was his, finally. the woman who had led him here, who had wrapped around his mind like a vice. the woman who made him crave to be better. the woman he'd been pining after for what felt like ages now—was wholly, unequivocally his. and now, she owned a part of his heart. he exhaled a breath he hadn't realize he'd been holding, as if he'd been under the surface and had just come back up for air. 

he shifted closer, pressed closer, drew her in closer. muzzle buried in the plush fur of her neck, he inhaled. "mine." he murmured hoarsely. reaffirming it to himself, so it'd sear itself into his heart. "dunno what i did to deserve you. still don't think i do." a vulnerable rumble. she was making him soft, and he didn't care. 

"but i swear, with everything i am, i will do better by you. i will protect you, provide for you. i'd follow ya to the ends of the earth, my girl." it was a promise. he reared back, only just enough to press kisses to her jaw, her cheek. his heart felt full, no longer icy and heavy with sin, with guilt. she was his salvation, and he'd spend the rest of his days cherishing her.

his words fell upon her like sunlight ; warm, dancing upon her skin, illuminating her with a rosy glow that shone from her pallid cheeks, that grew an affection within her eyes as she gazed upon him. his kisses were met with soft laughter, and between giggles she said: nukappiara, moving away for a single moment, before planting a kiss upon his dark nose. she drew herself closer to the deer, then, looking down.

will you help me to take some of this back? she smiled, turning her view back towards him, then. rala would not wait for a reply, bending her neck down so she may rip a chunk from the fleshy body. her tail swayed behind her as she waited for her love.

feel free to fade with your next! <3

with a smile that felt too soft and warm to be his, he obeyed. reaching down to rip a worthy chunk of their carcass, and then marking beside it so they or other bearclaw's could find it. and then he took his rightful place at her side, so they may walk back towards the heart of the territory together. a union he'd defend with his life, with a woman he'd die to protect. 

fade!