Ouroboros Spine ikuilliitik ⊮

official arrival thread of mg! @Aiolos @Shikoba @Sialuk @Inutsuk @Nyra @War @Towhee @Samani @Sabah @Muttn (tagging for visibility: @Foxfur @Wilwarin @Cerulean @Lazuline @Viridian (not sure if they'd still be around or not!)

the pack filed over deersight foothills. they were in sight of aniuk lake now, crested with snow and frozen in the cold breath of winter. 

it was odd not to have @Kigipigak in their number. he had parted ways with moonglow upon the coast, turning away to find a new future with the returned @Sakhmet. kukutux sent a silent prayer skyward, for their protection and their blessing as the snows gave way to new green.

upon entering the packland, moonwoman took the air. wolves had passed through, and recently. it was what she had expected. the meat in the caches and the sleeping-places she had left to those travelers who might come to this place. but now her village had returned. 

motioning that those carrying hides should come with her and stack them beside her ulaq, kukutux stopped short. the scent of urine was heavy, fresh. a cache had been dug by wolven claws and ruined. she snorted at this, turning toward her sun man with a frown. "sivullik," she called to shikoba. "take your hunting party. look for those who have done this."

the scents were young. feminine. kukutux continued to explore them, keeping the pups back from the ulax until they had each been thoroughly inspected.

Towhee drifted along with the others, mostly keeping to herself near the rear of the caravan. She supposed she was slowly integrating with her new pack mates, yet she hadn't quite found her footing within Moonglow yet. She wondered if she might be able to put down firmer roots once they returned to the spine. Her patrols would feel more purposeful there. At the very least, Towhee could establish herself as a devoted guardian and, perhaps at some point, maybe a mentor as well.

When they reached their destination, Towhee immediately noticed the markings. They were fresh. As far as she knew, Kukutux had not sent ahead any scouts, so there were intruders afoot. After briefly consulting with the Alpha female just to be sure, the mercenary flexed her paws in the unfamiliar ground and set out to do what she did best.

Nyra had helped carry the hides from the Taiga, and felt a bittersweet feeling of both fear and relief once they came upon the Spine. 

Kukutux stopped short and here, Nyra quickly caught the scent of intruders. She pulled the hides carefully from her back and set them out of the way on the snow beside @Kukutux before swiftly following @Towhee to investigate and hopefully intercept the squatters haunting the home of the village.

Samani was pleased that they had returned to their home. She had missed Moonglow and the spine. She had missed the familiarity of their village lands.

The young moon child trailed behind her mother. Her ears turned curiously as Kukutux offered instruction to Shikoba. Though she knew that it would not be suitable for her, Samani wished to go with the warrior woman. She had thought often of Shikoba’s stories.

The scent of strangers was sharp against her nose. Someone had found one of their caches and had dug up the meat inside. Samani did not understand why this was such a terrible ordeal. She understood that strangers did not belong inside their village, but they had been away for many days. Their scents had been faded and worn away from the borders of Moonglow. Did this not invite wanderers?

The moon child did not ask her questions, only listened and followed after her mother.

The travel was long and harder coming back then to leaving, for the skins and meat which they traveled with back home. Aiolos enjoyed the dried meat cured by Lote and was further blessed to view the Sea Goddess in her element once again.

Aiolos was sad for Kigipigak's leave though understanding of it due to his lover's final return to him. Aiolos wished the young man the best of luck. 

When the arrived, the fresh mark of a group was evident. The pack was on high alert. Aiolos woofs, a wordless gesture to back up Moonwoman's command and watched as Shikoba, with Towhee and Nyra (likely War to follow), go off to investigate. Even if more did not join Aiolos knew the women in the group would have no troubles. It was 100% nostalgia to watch the women take command.

Aiolos turns to Samani and silently offers her a nudge of affection. The land had been left to visitors but now it was time for them to leave.

the spine is a sight for sore eyes.

the taiga was peaceful, though the searing pain in shikoba's shoulder says otherwise. she wonders where the tartok man goes now, if he had finally been able to rejoin his group after draining the sources of Moonglow. either way, shikoba is happy to be back.

the pelts that had been carried were directed to be placed near the home of their matriarch, though the stench of loners rings in her nose. a call from the duck, to search for these thieves who have taken too much and have disrespected the spine.

a thundering bark, she calls for wolves to join her in the search for those responsible. the large female that she hasn't spoken to before, as well as the new recruit, are quick to join. perhaps another or two, shikoba looks towards @Inutsuk in hopes that he may be of help unless he is asked to help with anything.

if all else is well, the sivullik sets out at a quick pace to follow the many scents that linger.

War returned. Following along the others she spoke no words as she walked next to Nyra, carrying pelts of different colors and sizes. When the entered the land they now called home, it seemed like their leader sensed something wasn't right.

War carefully let the pelts slide off her shoulders and came closer to Nyra and the others and soon she scented it too. A warning snarl formed across her lips, her white teeth showed. Intruders. She felt a spark within, a fire ignited. This was what she was made for, this was why she was useful to Moonglow. Fight off intruders.

War didn't hear the leader order them to search for the intruders, she only saw fire. Destruction was upon them and War was ready to tear them apart. She quickly followed Nyra and the others in search of these unwelcome guests.