Ouroboros Spine spirits

throwing Lótë in here too, feel free to skip if needed! <3

The dove's ears flew forward, head lifting as the call sounded and sent fear spiking through her heart. Had the spirit-bear returned? Was it the red-furred tupilaq that had corrupted him beyond their borders?

Lótë abandoned the plants she had been identifying for the sake of the children, telling those in her care to stay within the heart of their village. She paused only long enough to send up a howl for the rest of the children -- calling for them to stay away from the borders and praying to the spirits that they were nowhere near the edges of the Spine. 

Flying on frantic steps, the two-year raced to the source of Shikoba's cry to find the expecting mother facing off a dark stranger with Kukutux and Inutsuk at her sides. The cloudberry wolf slowed slightly, slinking around to stand by her pale sister. 

Much as the trio had before her, the painter's lips peeled back to reveal her teeth as her ears flattened and her hackles prickled along her bear-marked haunches. A fierce breath whuffed between her jaws, a whisper of the snarl that would tear from her throat if the onyx he-wolf crossed onto their land.