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

Sikuliak watched his father closely, reminding himself that this was the man from his mother's stories. He wasn't going to hurt Imaq, or Siku himself. He resigned himself to observing the dynamic between his parents, navy-spotted ears pricking curiously as the duo embraced and Anâna soothed Atâtax as she had soothed their son so many times before. The pup wasn't quite sure what to make of this development. Rye didn't seem half bad so far, perhaps some men were different. 

Another approached, a woman that Siku didn't quite recognize. The boy's gaze dropped, drifting back a step as if he would rather place himself behind his parents rather than face the stranger. But he abstained, reminding himself he was half grown and he must stay by mother's side. His ears pinned, twitching against his skull to capture the she-wolf's -- Lane's -- words. 

When she spoke directly to him however, he glanced up, eyes flashing briefly with something akin to joy to hear Veteran's name. 

'Vet-win!' The memory sprang up unbidden, bringing with it a simple fraternity between childhood playmates, confusion, a spark of nostalgic homesickness. 

"Thank you," he was not without manners, mother had taught him that phrase of common. "Siku stay. See Veteran?" It was a bare wisp, his voice tiny as his whiskey gaze flitted between the snow-crusted earth and Lane and back again.