Duskfire Glacier all we wanted, was a place to feel like home

gonna be vague about their disappearance for now but I guess Imaq would've taken Siku beyond the borders to get away from Makatza's influence for a while and maybe learn to hunt with his bum leg. Then some kind of natural occurrence forced them to leave Teekon, a winter snowstorm caused them to wander too far and get lost perhaps? While outside Teekon, Imaq and Siku had quite the adventure! Butttt I'm gonna leave everything that happened out of game as a surprise for later. ;3

 

It couldn't have been long before someone appeared, though if felt like lifetimes had passed as her heart pounded in her ears. She was so anxious that she felt dizzy, nauseous as a liver splotched tongue swiped along her chops. She fought the urge to fidget. 

It wasn't just anyone who appeared though. It was Rye. Fear gripped her, but only for an instant. It was clear from the way her husband barreled towards them, stopping just short before pressing into her, that he wasn't angry. It wasn't enough to topple her, even on three limbs, but she did stagger as the Hotah embraced her. 

The old Imaq would've lit up, all smiles and a wiggling bum. But this new one, she could only cling to him. How foolish she'd been to leave him behind, the she-dog chided herself for the upteenth time. A tremulous breath quivered from her lips, eyes sliding shut as she allowed herself to relax against the medicine man -- for what felt like the first time in years. 

All too soon, Rye was pulling back. She blinked numbly, not quite processing the questions fired at her in rapid succession. For a time, all she could do was stare at him -- feeling that his concerned voice came from somewhere far off, as if he were still calling to her from across the frostbitten fields. 

Then, with a sluggish shake of her head as if to clear the cobwebs from her mind, Imaq began to speak. Only..she had forgotten herself. She did not recall in that moment, that Rye could not speak her mother tongue. 

"I..we were hunting and a storm sprang up suddenly. I tried to get Siku back to our camp but.." the merle gave a tiny, abashed shake of her head -- gaze dropping to her paws in contrition.