Moonspear just the way I like it here

For @Alaric and/or @Tikaani

Following Treepie's advice, Katmai sought out the other inhabitants of the mountain before fully committing to settling there. Besides — he had always wanted to meet Alaric.

He moved away from where he'd left Treepie to nap in the shade, sniffing along old trails until he found something fresh. Judging himself a respectful distance from Pie, he lifted his head to howl in question.

Alaric? Tikaani May I speak with you?

He would have to introduce himself, of course, but he hoped that the scent of Treepie on his pelt would help to smooth the way, there.

Alaric heard the call and headed down the mountain. And as he always did he arrived from above. Rock to rock and then a cat like leap to stand in front of the youth in front of him. A cursory sniff and he knew this was the young man that had spoken to treepie. He lifted his head, smelling his daughter. He looked around, but didn't see her two tone pelt or blue eyes. 

Hello. The youth had a look in his face that he recognized, but he couldn't quite place it yet.

Katmai was visibly startled by Alaric's arrival, but he knew at once that this was the man that he sought. The dramatics only served to cement in his mind that this was a man of legends, and he was instantly awed by him, despite his simple greeting.

"Peace be!" he said with an excited little wiggle, bowing to the older male in respect. "I am Katmai Morningside — I think you may have known my father, Dutch?"

His father had certainly said as much, but Katmai was suddenly shy of repeating it. What if this great and mysterious medicine man did not remember his father? It would be embarrassing, considering how well and how often Dutch told stories of him.

A soft chuckle. He hadn't meant to startle the youth. But he could see the humor in it. 

I apologize. I hadn't meant to startle you.

Alarics face transformed into a big smile. I remember Dutch. Good friend. Good company. Good wolf. I wondered who you looked like. I know now.

A tilt of his ear. What brings you in search of my company?

When the name of his father caused Alaric to smile, Katmai answered with a beaming grin of his own. He was proud that such a man thought fondly of his dad, and thought that it boded well for any future he might share with Kinusi as well.

"A few things," he admitted, his tail whisking. "But the first is that I have heard much about you, and for this reason, I have always hoped to meet you. My father told us stories of your cunning and wisdom — and Kinusi and Treepie speak well of you, too."

Obviously. Who wouldn't?

"Are the stories about you true?" he asked, just a little starry-eyed. "Can you really frighten off bears with naught but a steely-eyed glare?"

This young man. He was happy and proud. Healthy. Alaric felt glad in his hesrt that such a youth had sought him up, kept friends with Kinusi and Tree pie. It was nice.

Alaric chuckled. Im glad to hear my presence is liked. Sometimes, I do worry that I am a bit much for others.

I would say some are true some are embellished. I have scared off a bear, but am unsure if it was my glare or the noise I gave.

There was a small, small part of Katmai that was suddenly suspicious of the man. It was just that the worry was familiar to him, now. Kinusi had said almost the same thing. Was this the person who had put such an idea into her head? That what she was was somehow too much instead of an lovely wealth?

He did not speak the same words of reassurance to Alaric, though he did wag his tail and reply, "I am very pleased to meet you, as my father was very pleased to know you."

Then his hero-worship was back. He could not decided if it was his father who had embellished or Alaric who was downplaying his prowess — but either way, he was well impressed by the man.

"Kinusi and Treepie say that you are a wise healer as well," he told the man, his tail whisking. "I do not know much of healing, but Kini has been teaching me some of the songs that she had learned from you. We have been travelling together for a month or so."

Had the father known the youth felt him responsible he'd have quickly amended. Because he to thought Kinusi was great. He did remind her to be a little more polite when meeting strangers, but that was more worry for her than doubt in her.
I am pleased to have known Dutch as well. I made a Talisman for him once to help him with an evil we had. I got to know him well while doing so.

Alaric smiled. I try. Kinusi probably didnt tell you, but she comes from a long line of healers, bards and storytwllers.

A nod Is she well?

Katmai had heard of the talisman as well; the story of that great evil had been passed down almost in full — though Dutch had not told Katmai about the poison that had been crafted for the evil as well. Unaware of it, Katmai's tail whisked and he eagerly informed the man, "I have been told that tale as well!"

And, "She hadn't," he admitted, "But I am not surprised. She sings very well." An understatement, in his opinion. He refrained from sighing over her in front of her father, however. "We are not healers in my family, but singing and storytelling is something that my family also treasures."

He settled; they were conversing just as two wolves ought, as though there were no great barrier of legend between them. It was a little surreal.

"Kinusi is well," he reported, pleased to be able to do so. "We are looking for a territory to settle. I ran into Treepie a few weeks ago, and she suggested that Moonspear would make a good territory for the pack that I hope to build." With Kinusi. That thought went unsaid, but perhaps not unheard. "But I have not fully decided yet — and I wouldn't, of course, without speaking to the others who call this place home."

Alaric was surprised that Dutch had spoken of that specific moment. And wondered briefly if he told the boy of the poison. But decided ultimately it didn't matter. It had been Dutch's story to tell.

Alaric grinned. I swear she was born singing. She always babbled and sang even as a youngling. I remember your dad telling me that. He and I shared stories on occasion.

Alaric's green gaze took in the boy. Understanding in the hidden words. But he made no comment. Kini was an adult. She could make her own choices.

A lift of shoulder.Im fine with it if you want to settle here. Tiki will do what her sister wants.

The poison. The poison for Kuzco, the poison chosen especially to kill Kuzco, Kuzco's poison

Katmai was, predictably, quite charmed by the idea of a girl who was born singing. There were stories about that in his lineage as well, though not about any wolf who lived today. More often, it was said that a wolf had "died singing" — but Katmai knew now that those words were not meant to be looked at too closely.

An odd feeling sank over him as Alaric gave his permission. A thread of excitement still existed in him, sure — but mostly, he felt quietly calm. Settled. At peace. Moisturized.

Katmai let out a little breath.

"Then we will stay here," he said, speaking the words into the quiet between them. Slowly, his tail began to wag again. "I spoke to Treepie about it — I would like to call the village Dawnspear. To honor both our families."

lol just a cameo

She walked there with pretty gaze. But kept backwards. Not in the face of the newcomer. Or near Alaric, but from afar. A fleeting glance of her pelt could be seen. 

She sat and watched.

Alaric had loved his daughter fiercely and his son, who was probably not his son. But that did not matter. What mattered was the man had love to give in spades. So did his Kini and he hoped she chose right. This boy seemed good and kind. And that his father was who he had been, earned bonus points to Alaric. 

HE nodded his head. Dawnspear it fit well. I think that name suits well. Well I'll be here until I am no longer needed. So a healer, a bard, and a story teller at your service. A rogue some may say.

It was reassuring to hear that Alaric had no plans to depart. Katmai had been feeling his lack of experience quite keenly since leaving home, and it was nice to know that there would be a man with much wisdom nearby. That he was a great and storied healer was endlessly valuable.

Katmai, of course, was even more excited for stories.

"My father is one of them!" Katmai replied, laughing as rogue was nearly excluded from the list of Alaric's accolades. "I should like to hear more about your adventures. And about what Kini and Treepie were like when they were small."

He thought he caught sight of someone in the distance, but when the movement stopped, his attention was pulled back to Alaric.

Alaric would not leave as long as he had a home here, unless he got to restless. But alaric also knew. Age was steadily creeping up on him. He was aging each and every day, as the world turned. He was growing grey around his muzzle and eyes. 

Alaric chuckled. I am aware.

Alaric laughed outright at the next question. Pie was always quiet, happy. Wanting to help everyone. Kini, ah kini. 

He laughed again. SHe was a rascal actually. She was always stealing my snacks and giggling around. She was smarth mouthed and sassy and she was bigger than life. IN all the good ways.

That Treepie had always been one to try and help others did not surprise him, but Katmai's heart hurt just a little when Alaric described her as happy. He'd not been a very happy child himself — too much had gone wrong — and he'd imagined Treepie with the same disposition all too easily. But she'd been happy — and now, Katmai was not quite sure she still was.

It was a thought for another day.

The report on Kinusi brought his spirits back to high places. His chest ached in a different way, from the strain of holding all his feelings for her inside it. Of course she had been sassy and smart-mouthed. She still was! And kind and sweet and infinitely charming, and so loud sometimes that she sounded like a choir, and Katmai's tongue felt heavy in his mouth, burdened by all the things he wanted to say but knew that he should not, not yet —

He blinked at Alaric, coming back out of his lovesick thoughts.

"In all the best ways, even now," he agreed, unsure when Alaric had last seen his daughter. His tail wagged, and he told the man, shyly, "She is very dear to me. I've not met anyone like her before."

He doubted he ever would again. Kinusi was special, and in her singularity, a priceless treasure.

Alaric thought of how Treepie had been sometimes. And it hurt him more than he cared to admit. And he grew angry at all the people that had left her. Who should have stayed. Her mother, her second mother, her siblings, her father even. It didn't sit well with the Healer and Story teller. 

Alaric smiled. I'm glad she is dear to you. And I don't think you'll ever find another like her. Sometimes there's wolves born that are just their own model. And no one and nothing can repeat it. They broke the mold. I'm glad for it.

Alaric nodded his head. He himself was unique, had always been. But his had come from hard lessons. Kinusi was a rare one, that just was.

Though it was a given that her father would speak so highly of her, Katmai still felt more sure than ever that there was no better woman than Kinusi. His feelings for her grew ever stronger, but he was still shy about how to go about expressing them.

He was good at friendship, he thought. But romance was such a foreign concept to him, even having heard all the stories. His body was still young, and his desires still sweetly innocent. Yet the passion in his heart begged to be used.

Katmai decided that a nice, long climb up the mountain would help him.

"I am glad for it, too," he replied, his tail spinning in affirmation. "Do you think you could show me the best path up the mountain?" he asked the older male. "I want to explore, but I've not spent much time climbing before."

shall we fade this one soon? And then maybe a Tiki/Kindle?

Alaric was bias about his daughter. If he knew he had another out there, he'd have been just as besotted. 

A nod. Sure thing. But besr in mind. Air gets thinner. So if you find it hard to breathe tell me immwdiately.

A shake of his ruff and he motioned the boy to step into sync with him.

I'll fade here and thank you. I did get a tiki/kindle up