Duskfire Glacier and in the morning, too

@Tahani

Most of her time is still spent with the other puppies. The same wolves come and go and she finds herself a little familiar with some more than others.  Still, she waits for the day they move on but as each day passes and they don’t pick up the following night, she wonders if they’re going to go at all.
 
The caverns Shivali confines them to is a bit chilly and she enjoys any chance she has to get out from them and finding some sun to bask in for a little while. Today, there are no visitors. No one to take her away from the cold of the glacier to stretch her legs. It’s not entirely unbearable but she would like to get rid of the chill once and for all. Lazily, she glances to the other puppies sleeping up against their mother. If she goes over, she’ll disrupt them and something keeps her from doing so. Instead, she scoots closer and curls up on the opposite side of the mother and lowers her head to her paws.

she traveled silently through the caverns, her pawsteps barely making a sound, wary as she was of waking the pups. much to her surprised delight, she saw Currituck awake, tucked away from the other pups; her eyes gleam in the dim light. she lowered herself to near eye-level with Tatik, a smile blooming easily over her maw.

"little bird," Tahani whispered, her voice barely a breath, only echoing faintly off the walls. she flicked her tail and bowed her chin, gesturing for Currituck to come closer, into her embrace. perhaps they would go explore, today. there was an adventurous spirit in the girl that Tahani dearly loved, and she would do her best to nurture it, though sometimes it frightened her more than she would ever let on.

Hearing and scenting Tahani coming their way, Currituck trembles and wiggles a bit. Her eyes fly open but her posture remains curled, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the other pale woman. She doesn’t know why, but this one’s her favorite. Shivali had a lot to offer, and the one with the eggs is very nice, but something roots deeper with the one that (unbeknownst to her) has been there since her birth. When Tahani comes into sight, Currituck bolts upright, not carrying whether or not she disturbs anyone else, and barrels right into her embrace, her feet slipping on the cold stone ground and less-than-gracefully crashes into her caretaker.

she stood firm as the girl collided with her, laughing softly, trying not to wake the other babes. "hello, Tatik," she whispered, nuzzling Currituck's tiny head. her pelt was cool to the touch, and Tahani instinctively pulled her close, into the warmth of her chest. Ocracoke had looked every bit a southern wolf, and while she'd never know this one's father, she was willing to wager he was the same.

little Tatik was not bred for the cold. Tahani feared the winter only for her sake. how on earth would she keep her warm, barring holing her up in a den for moons on end?

"want to go exploring?" she asked, trying to push her worries to the back of her mind. her mouth cracked in a grin, tail wagging behind her. "our new home is huge, and very beautiful." a big exciting world for such a small girl. Tahani was thrilled to be able to walk her through it.

Currituck easily leans into the embrace, nuzzling into her thick pale fur. It’s not so bad when she’s close to another and it’s not too much to complain all the time. None of the other puppies complain and the adults don’t seem to mind it, so she should be able to as well.
 
With reluctance, she pulls back and peers up at her caretaker with a smile. “Ya!” she chirps, weaseling her way under the woman as she can lead the way.

what should they see first? something warm, she thought. it wouldn't be ideal for her pelt, but Tatik's comfort came first. perhaps to the shores of the meltwater lake, away from the ice fields. that would give the girl a chance to be more in her southern element, and besides, it was beautiful there. it was beautiful everywhere, here. . .but very cold.

"let's go, then, Tatik," Tahani said, laughter in her voice and a sparkle in her eyes. she nudged Currituck along. "you can tell me about the adventures you've been having in the caves. look at those trees over there! can you tell me what those are called?"

the pair wandered out of the caverns, one white, one darker. clashing, to the outsider's eye--but perfect for one another, in every way. at least, that was what Tahani thought. every day, she grew more and more thankful for the girl; her love grew larger by the minute.