I see it, don't you?

She'd finally found it; their haven. Just as she promised she would.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?” She moved with excited steps, looking to @Kirain to assess their thoughts. Would she approve, just as the spirits did?

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She stayed true to her word and followed the pale dame. Kirain wasn’t sure how far south they had traveled, only that they had passed through countless biomes, each one deemed unworthy by Nanuk. Yet, she couldn’t help but admire the she-wolf’s unwavering determination, the resolute way she pressed on.

Lost in thought, Kirain nearly missed the shift in their surroundings. Another expanse of white stretched before them, vast and untouched. The familiar crunch of snow beneath her paws sent a pleased shiver up her spine. Frost-laden trees loomed in the distance, while towering mountains carved a jagged silhouette against the sky. The sight stole her breath.

“It’s amazing. Absolutely perfect.” Her eyes gleamed with renewed hope, her heart quickening. Could this truly be home?
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She hummed a soft, content note, pleased that she was not the only one who saw the land's promise.

“Silatukvik, 'place of the moon and snow', it will be called.” She looked to the skies, sending a silent prayer of thanks.

When her eyes opened again, she looked to Kirain. “There is much still to be done to bring this village to life. If you still wish to say, I will ask much help of you, Kirain. I cannot do this all alone.” And then it was left as a question. Was this woman still as devoted as she claimed to be?

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“Silatukvik.” Kirain breathed the name, letting it settle on her tongue as she took in the scenery. Yes, this would do wonderfully. A brilliant smile spread across her face, her tail swaying with uncontained excitement.

She turned to Nanuk, silver gaze unwavering, filled with quiet resolve. Her voice, though soft, carried a steady promise. “I will help you in any way I can. Just say the word, and I shall follow.”

She meant every syllable. Her heart had already claimed this village, and she would see it flourish, no matter what it took.
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The white woman smiled, the gesture filled with warmth and appreciation. “I am glad to hear it.”

Beckoning the woman forward, she continued to walk the unmarked path that the evergreens had designed for them. “Before we get distracted with any further tasks on making this a proper home, I must first now how you envision seeing yourself placed among the village. Are there any particular interests or skills that you have, one that might help me decide where to best place you in our ranks?”

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Following behind the she-wolf, Kirain listened intently, her ears pricked with interest. “Ah… well, I have some skills in medicine and medicinal plants,” she admitted. “I'm no expert, but I can treat minor injuries and identify useful herbs. I'm always eager to learn more, I want to help those in need.”

Every word rang with sincerity. She wasn’t just offering her knowledge, she was offering a piece of herself. Helping others wasn’t just a skill, it was a calling.
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Her eyes brightened at the woman's answer. “Even with as little experience as you claim to have, anything at all will be enough to provide for those in need among the village. As it so happens, healers are common among my family. I could teach you more, if you are willing to learn.” She had never had a student, but it would be good practice for the future generations to come.

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If she had been eager before, it was nothing compared to the excitement that surged through her now. “Truly? You would teach me?” Her eyes shone with newfound determination. “I'll be a diligent student, I swear!”

There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. This was an opportunity she wouldn't let slip through her grasp.
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A soft chuckle escaped her at seeing Kirain so excited and eager. “I am sure you will be,” she nodded. “And I will do my best to teach you. You will be my first official student, if I am honest.” But that wouldn't deter her from performing as though she were her 100th.

“Now, onto preparations. We will need to find the perfect location for housing. Small caverns, or even larger caves would be better sought. Caches for storage will be needed, as well as places for everyone to sleep. For now, we will stick with smaller prey for meals. But eventually, as the village grows, we will have more hunters apt for tracking any heads among and beyond the evergreens, ripe for hunting. Those make for the best furs for bedding, you know.”

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Kirain hummed in agreement, her silver gaze sweeping over the landscape, searching for anything of use. As they walked, she tried to familiarize herself with the trees and whatever hardy flora had managed to survive in this terrain. Later, she would wander on her own for a more in-depth investigation, but for now, she contented herself with passing pines and snow-laden brush.

She was also listening, searching. Her ears remained perked, attuned to the hush of the evergreen haven around them. Surely, there must be prey hidden away somewhere. What might they find here? Hare? Fox? Squirrel? Her mind whirled with curiosity.

“I imagine the mountains will be our best bet for housing,” she mused softly, her gaze still raking the snow-covered expanse. “As beautiful as these trees are, I'm not seeing anything truly feasible within them. The heights would give us a better vantage point as well.”
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She nodded along, listening carefully. “Yes, I do agree. We will need to ensure we find safe paths for all to travel. But for any children born here, we will need to find suitable whelping dens at the mountain's base. It will save the mother strife and keep the children from harm.”
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“That certainly comes with its own set of challenges.”

Kirain shifted her gaze to the mountains, the towering sentinels standing watch, their silent presence both daunting and inviting.

“I'm not much of a visionary, if I’m being honest,” she admitted. “What’s our plan for recruiting others? I’m not sure how many would be willing to make the journey here of their own accord.”
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This was indeed a fair question. She wasn't really sure how they would come about finding others. “That, I am unsure of. We will just have to hope that others will stumble upon us. That is the purpose, after all. For this village to be a homestead for those that find us and seek what we have to offer.”

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Kirain nodded thoughtfully, her gaze fixed on the mountains. As the vision of the village took shape in her mind, her tail swayed with growing excitement. A home, so close she could almost reach out and grasp it. “Once we're more established, word will spread,” she said, her voice brimming with anticipation. “I can't begin to express how eager I am to get started. There's still so much to do, so much to see.”
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She was glad to see the woman so eager. It would make for good work as they prepared to bring the village to life.

“It will all come together well. The spirits will guide us and see our vision come to life.”

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Kirain tilted her head, studying her companion with bright-eyed curiosity. “You've mentioned spirits before, what are they? Do they really speak to you?” Her voice carried a genuine kindness, open and eager to understand.
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She hummed a thoughtful note. “Sometimes I do believe I hear them, yes. Voices carried on the wind, traveling with me as I go. And when I pray to them, they listen and heed my pleas. I do believe they helped me find this place.”

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“Voices carried on the wind? I’ve never heard of that before.” Kirain lifted her gaze to the endless stretch of sky, sunlight warming her face. “I know people look to the stars for guidance, there's such stories to be told by starlight.”

She let the breeze brush against her fur, thoughtful. “I've never prayed before either,” she admitted. “But I like the idea that someone is listening, that they offer guidance to those who need it. It makes the world feel a little less uncertain.”
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“The spirits are always listening, whether you can see them, or even believe they are there. I do not expect you to follow the same path, or take to prayer as I do. But it is something to think on, should you wish to pursue the belief.” Whether the woman chose to or not, who was she to deflect from teaching a potential believer?

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“It certainly gives me much to consider. Thank you for your patience and kindness. There’s so much I don’t understand, so much I wish to. The world is vast.” Kirain exhaled softly, watching as her breath curled into the cold air, a fleeting cloud before her.

We can fade out there? Start a new thread to discover more area?

---

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She nodded, smiling. This time alone with Kirain had offered more fruitfulness than she'd previously hoped for. What could have been better?

“There is plenty time more to learn and discover. You need only be open to it. Let's walk a bit more? Then we can call it quits and rest for the evening.”

---

Sounds good to me!

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