---

For Kusaxasaa & Daa'ka.

Yaalk'ali had watched and he had waited... and after his encounter with the Lanzadoii slave and whelp, Yaalk'ali had followed to the camp that he thought to call his own.

Having been trailing the band, he knew his brother to be one among them. Had thought hard on whether he should join their band or not. Yet he had scent no others as of yet. Had not ran into the Sharadoii or Seal Hunter, either.

To think that he might have been following in his brother's paw-steps made him scoff. Maybe yet still he would make a place for himself without being under the shadow of his much larger, stronger brother. Time would tell.

Now did he stride the outskirts of their forming band, scanning for one he might think the stance of a Cheiftan. Herdless, without a scent of caribou in the air. Yaalk'ali could only assume they were as lost having come into this new world without rhythm or reason just as he.

[it pleased the caribou man to hear that satsená and daa'ka would welcome new lanzadoii children among the saatsine. he wanted the same for himself and sivaak, a defiant show of fertility after so much sundering. the children he had lost were not replaceable, but neither would he lose himself in grief. a world must be created for their return and for the survival of the lanzadoii themselves. kusax̱asaa settled the sun clan away from the flighty valley-dwelling wolves. the sharadoii women were pretty, yes, but not worth for now his attention. he was vaguely interested to know if they would come seeking among the lanzadoii for their ceremonies, but did not think of it much. the slate eye lifted, fixing to the autumn-bright features of a vulpish man.]

it pleased the caribou man to hear that satsená and daa'ka would welcome new lanzadoii children among the saatsine. he wanted the same for himself and sivaak, a defiant show of fertility after so much sundering. the children he had lost were not replaceable, but neither would he lose himself in grief. a world must be created for their return and for the survival of the lanzadoii themselves.

kusax̱asaa settled the sun clan away from the flighty valley-dwelling wolves. the sharadoii women were pretty, yes, but not worth for now his attention. he was vaguely interested to know if they would come seeking among the lanzadoii for their ceremonies, but did not think of it much.

the slate eye lifted, fixing to the autumn-bright features of a vulpish man.

There was a man in the distance who watched carefully. A man as dark as deep night and with a socket just as hollow of black. One steely eye upon him, watching carefully. Another woman in the distance, just as dark yet only broken by a ghostly touch of white across half her face. Her eyes just as hard, cold.

Yaalk'ali walks carefully. Each stride long and smooth, covering the space quickly. He moves in an arc around them, coming closer but slowly so to allow space if he were not welcome. Yet caribou hunters were traders and their settlements open for visitors, not only for trade but a show of their spoils, a show of strength.

Chieftan? Lanzadoii words spoken, made to ensure the man's place here. He would not waste his time with any other. I am Lanzadoii Yaalk'ali. I come to march with you and my brother.

[an approach. kusax̱asaa himself did not move, standing shadowed and unyielding until lanzadoii proved itself from that foxfire mouth. while the saatsine did not claim this land, he was protective over it and over his brother's woman who carried new life. yet knowing he was in the presence of their own relaxed kusax̱asaa somewhat, and he watched the man. you have found the saatsine. i am kusax̱asaa lanzadoii. you are welcome, yaalk'ali. tall darkness stepped aside for the fox. into what band were you born? the piecing of lineages would come as they walked.]

an approach. kusax̱asaa himself did not move, standing shadowed and unyielding until lanzadoii proved itself from that foxfire mouth. while the saatsine did not claim this land, he was protective over it and over his brother's woman who carried new life. yet knowing he was in the presence of their own relaxed kusax̱asaa somewhat, and he watched the man.

you have found the saatsine. i am kusax̱asaa lanzadoii. you are welcome, yaalk'ali. tall darkness stepped aside for the fox. into what band were you born?

the piecing of lineages would come as they walked.