Duskfire Glacier mamatsak ∓

for @Aiolos, @Issorartuyok & @Lane, but also aw to any other dfg members! no posting order. set for nov 21st, midmorning, gentle snow

leaving @Shikoba and @Sialuk as heads of moonglow in their absence, with @Kigipigak as their support, the sun man and moonwoman climbed the slopes of the glacier. lótë and wilwarin had been found; the mother was with her four children once more.

what took her interest now was that wintersbane's scent was not here. the markings present belonged to her companion lane and the man of the north issoratuyok. she exchanged a look with her husband. it was not what she had expected but it was not unacceptable.

curiosity reared in the duck. she tilted her crown back and called politely for the new leading pair. as the echoes of her song drifted away, kukutux adjusted the grey strip of pelt she wore. "we must tell them about the animals which have died in sickness," she murmured soberly.

Veteran saw the two strangers approaching the border up the long stretch of moraine, and he did what he'd been trained to do: he turned immediately around and went for an adult. Someday, he would be old enough to meet strangers on the border by himself, but that day was not yet here. 

He ran into his mother first, and he passed along the information excitedly. At first, his mom looked concerned, but then her face lit up in recognition when the stranger's howls filled the air.

"Come, Veteran," Lane instructed her boy, now just as excited as he was. "Our guest is Kukutux, alpha of Moonglow."

Lane hustled to meet her friend at the border. "Kukutux, hello! Is this your Sun Man?" Lane asked, eyes shining in mirth. Of course, she needn't have asked-- one look at the man was all it took to see that he was undoubtedly the sun to Kukutux's moon. 

Lane pressed her cheek to Kukutux's, tail whipping back and forth. "This is my son, Veteran," she introduced the boy after she pulled away.

Aiolos' brow creased, taking his mate's concern within himself. He did not know this man, Wintersbane, on any particular level though knew that it was on his good word they came to him and his pack as friend and ally.

Kukutux adjusted the pelt on her shoulders and he helps and moves then to nose the nape of his wife, insuring her that she looked perfectly presentable for their allies.

It would not be long before the Duskfire wolves came, a mother and her son. She immediately knew him as Kukutux sun man, despite never having met her before. If it could be so, Aiolos pelt would have burned a brighter red, a happiness and pride in knowing how his love spoke of him to others.

Aiolos smiles deeply, his head and muzzle dipping low before the tawny woman. I am miss, He speaks, fiery eyes moving between she and the young boy, already wearing a recognizable scar of the fight. It is a pleasure to meet you both.

teo said go ahead <3

kukutux returned lane's bright embrace, heartened by her greeting. "yes," she murmured with an eager and girlish flush to her pale cheeks. "this is lane. she is a healer with much wisdom in her mind." smiling again at the other woman, kukutux looked now at the boy. 

he was kinnivik. in this, she saw how he bore wintersbane's spirit.

but he carries his mother's totem.

"veteran. it is good to see your face." the boy wore a fierce, jagged scar. it stood starkly against the still-soft features of his young countenance. she hoped he would see the scars upon her own and the hunting-mark upon her right shoulder, and know that this was a sign of power. "our village has children with your moons. perhaps you will share words."

kukutux gave the young hunter a respectful nod before she turned her attention to lane. "we have brought all of moonglow, to go to winter hunting in the valleys." the duck looked at aiolos for a moment. "i have the want that we build ulax of snow and hunt many caribou while we stay. we ask that duskfire village celebrate with us; we will share hunting and meat and skins."

but her tone was deferential. kukutux bartered now. lane held a position of importance here that only grew greater as the stone man did not arrive. she wondered, but did not ask. the healing-woman would formalize it in words. 

if she demurred, then the duck would know that the man still held his rank. but if she did not —

moonwoman hoped it to be so.

Veteran lowed his rump to the ground as he was introduced. "It's nice to meet you," he said dutifully, the sentiment directed to both Moonglow wolves. Kukutux mentioned that there were pups in her pack of his age for him to meet, and his backside lifted from the ground once more, immediately. 

"Okay," he agreed readily. He looked, for all intents and purposes, like he was fully prepared to leave at once with Kukutux. In the back of his mind, he knew he was committed to keeping this border safe, but he was also coming off the fresh disappointment of learning that he would not be joining Meerkat and Issorartuyok on their journey. As such, he was eager to carve out an adventure of his own. 

Kukutux's next words to Lane revealed that his little adventure may be much closer to home than he originally thought. They're here? All of Moonglow? The boy was practically dancing, shifting from paw to paw in his excitement. He couldn't imagine anything more wonderful than building ulax-- whatever they were-- and hunting caribou, and celebrating with a feast. Please mom, say yes, please please please...

Lane smiled at Aiolos's confirmation. 

Although she was not a fan of the word healer, she wouldn't dream of correcting Kukutux, especially not when she spoke so highly of Lane. Much wisdom in her mind ..really? If wisdom was truly in her mind somewhere, she was having trouble getting it out, lately. 

Lane delivered a proud lick to the top of her son's head, her tongue gliding gently over the scar on his scalp. He spoke in turn and respectfully, just as he had been taught. Such a good boy. 

Relief swept Lane's features as Kukutux laid out her plan. "I'm so glad Moonglow is here. Yes, please stay. Your timing could not have been any better." With the latest crisis weighing heavily on her mind, Lane didn't think to inform Kukutux of the change in leadership in Duskfire Glacier. Lane already felt like she'd been leading for a decade, and it completely slipped her mind that this development would be news for Kukutux. 

"There is sickness in the herd," she explained, looking between Kukutux and Aiolos. "We need all the help we can get to cull it out, and Moonglow has the best hunters in the Teekons." The job was too large for the Duskfire wolves alone, but with their combined strength..? For the first time in days, Lane was feeling optimistic about the situation. "When our task is complete, we will celebrate and commune with Moonglow for as long as you wish to stay in these lands." It was the least she could do, if Moonglow was willing to help them save the herd.

I'm just editing to link a relevant NY Times article about cwd. Here's a quote from the article by a wildlife ecologist who is leading the project to eradicate cwd in Yellowstone:

“Wolves have really been touted as the best type of animal to remove infected deer, because they are cursorial — they chase their prey and they look for the weak ones. Preliminary results in Yellowstone have shown that wolves can delay outbreaks of chronic wasting disease in their prey species and can decrease outbreak size."

Another tilt down and to the side of Aiolos' crown was given as Kukutux introduced the woman in front of them. Glancing to the youth as his mate addressed him, Aiolos wondered how well the children of Duskfire might get along with his now many children. He wondered if their alliance was so strong, if this young may one day be betrothed to his own.

The boy was ready, incredibly excited for the possibility of new friends and new adventure, to watch the hunts and wait eagerly for the feasts to follow. Aiolos smiles to him, his own tail waving along with the young boy's, to signify his own happiness too.

The winter can be very harsh, especially up north... He speaks low, directed to Veteran, though of course those next to them could hear. It is always good for friends to come together in these times.

Aiolos head lifted then, perking eyes to Lane's words. They had noticed some sick on their travels though did not know how far this head spread. Apparently a problem enough for Lane to mention it. Aiolos wondered if the herds being sick meant they were safe to eat or not, if the sickness could be transfered to them. Who would be the test dumby?

A small chuckle then, on behalf of Moonglow having the best hunters in all the Wilds. My thanks. We will do all that we can to help stop the spread of this sickness-together. He pauses then, looking around and then back to Lane. We've no means to overstep or overcrowd. We would like to settle somewhere in the valley or woodlands neighboring to your glacier, if that would be acceptable?

their presence was welcomed and timely. kukutux nodded fervently, her pale ears sweeping to hear all of lane's words.

winter hunting would become a time of healing. it was meant to be so. aiolos affirmed this, and kukutux was pleased that he spoke the words of her heart once more.

and the duck did not miss how lane made no mention of wintersbane or the winter-wolf whom the duck had scented upon these borders. when aiolos spoke, kukutux nodded in respectful deferment to his words. she was moonwoman but he was her husband.

"sun man will set a path for us. it is good to be in the snow. but we will be close to you. you say we have hunters who are the best. i say that duskfire has skill great as mine here in your village." her greenstone eyes sparkled. "we will walk the same trail."

the mind of an atsak did not cease. sialuk had not been given the chance for an ugi. perhaps samani might be granted this if kukutux made the proper obeisance.

Veteran was thrilled to hear him mom welcome the Moonglow hunters to the Taiga. Yes, yes, yes! Duskfire Glacier was finally going to see some action..! And the good kind..! Not he kind where sisters tore your face open or fathers got struck by lightening.

The boy was also feeling pretty vindicated that his and his mom's plans for the sick deer in the herd had been more or less the same. Both Lane and Veteran wanted them killed. This was instinctive for a wolf, and his mother had always taught him to follow his instincts. He was annoyed to have been encouraged by to doubt himself by Eldritch and Ensio, and even Issorartuyok too (although his mentor would get the benefit of the doubt, because his over-abundance of caution had seemed much more reluctant). 

"Mom, can I go stay with Aunt Kukutux and set the trail with Uncle Sun-man? Please?" Veteran begged, his large, pleading gaze settling on Lane's face. He was careful not to whine, because mom hated that, but every inch of his body was quivering with longing.

"I'm so glad to hear that," Lane replied to Aiolos. "You'e welcome wherever you are comfortable. Our borders are open to Moonglow brothers and sisters." Lane wasn't entirely sure what an ulax was, but if it was anything like the snow-dens she had carved for herself last winter, then the valley would be their best bet. "By now, the valley should have collected enough snow for denning," she suggested. 

Lane's own honey eyes glowed in gratitude for Kukutux's words, although she quite doubted that the Glacier's own hunting prowess could hold a candle to that of Moonglow. The Duskfire wolves were healers, and the Moonglow wolves were hunters. This was known. 

Except.. Kukutux was a healer in her own right, wasn't she? Lane opened her mouth to make a request, but she was interrupted by her son.

Aunt Kukutux and Uncle Sun-man? She saw what Veteran was doing, using familial terms for the pair in order to appeal to Lane's sensitivity. The thing was, it was working. Lane glanced quickly at Kukutux to gauge her reaction. "Ah.. I think so," she allowed, given that Kukutux had already more or less extended an invitation to the boy. "..But Aunt Kukutux and Uncle Aiolos probably need some time to get their family settled." Veteran looked for all intents and purposes like he was ready to depart immediately.

Aiolos could have lifted his chin with a pride to his wife's words. He would set the path. They would not be far. Aiolos would be precise when it came to picking a settlement for his family, the whole of the pack included in this. A place safe enough from the herds sickness and stampede, should they draw too near the wolves in their sickly mind state. Aiolos made a note to investigate the valley which Lane suggested.

To Veteran's words, Aiolos ginger ears move backward, a sheepish expression given towards Lane. Uncle Sun-Man hu? Sly boy.

Your mother is correct. His fiery eyes sweep over Lane and down to her son. Our family waits for our instruction. When we find rest in the valley, you may join us.

moonwoman nodded after aiolos had spoken. "but then you may stay," she said, unable to help herself. veteran was too filled with delight to deny. "duskfire is welcome in all our hunting camps. we will indeed be ajâtsuk and angak."

she looked with amusement at her husband. he had not been upon this ground for a hand of time, and already moonglow had claimed new kinship ties for itself.

"we will go to settle now," she suggested, giving veteran a fond glance and then passing one of affection to lane. "moonglow begins its hunting as soon as we have built our dens."

Veteran was overjoyed to hear his new "aunt and uncle" agree, and he leapt into the air in unbridled celebration. His joy was contagious, and as he ran circles around Lane with excited yips, she forgot entirely about her troubles with Wintersbane. She had meant to ask Kukutux to come look at the saiyu she had brewed, and to recommend a dosage for Wintersbane or anything else that could help. But all of that slipped her mind as she looked lovingly and proudly down upon her son, heart so full it could burst.  

"I couldn't be happier or more relieved that you're here," she would impart again, this time in preparation to depart. She didn't believe in gods or spirits or any such nonsense, but she was overcome with the feeling that something in the universe must be watching out for Duskfire Glacier. "Our hunters will join you shortly. Say goodbye, Veteran." He would do so with enthusiasm, with quick hugs and licks all around. 

Lane watched him with a half-smile. Though her emotion was more restrained, her love for the boy would radiate from every fiber of her being. 

This can be the fade if you like, feel free to archive when you're ready!