A Bond of Two Hunters

Inutai sat alone in front of her tent and contemplatively looked down into the valley. It was always the same that bothered her when she was without company, but now Ainuk dominated her thoughts. She imagined him  as a chieftain, saw herself at their marriage ceremony.

It was awful.

She would rather die than spend the rest of her life like this. Why did he do that? It was not fair. Did he know that she loved another hunter of his werak? That she loved Aratak?

She did not know, but the feeling was shattering. She had believed so strongly that this Werak could be her last, one to grow old and live her life as she pleased, but it was not meant to be. She would never surrender to Ainuk, however. No, she would not.

Before the next snow melt she knew she had to leave the Werak – no matter how hard it was. Thinking of Ourea and Aratak tied a lump in her neck. She felt her eyes turn hot and wet, but she did not let the tears go and swallowed the pain. A Banuk did not cry so easily. Not because of something like that, but it was hard not to.

The thought of Ourea and Aratak, whom she had come to love so much to leave once and for all, was not acceptable for her. And Aratak? Her heart knew she could never love anyone like him. A single little tear made her way down Inutai’s brown skin down the gentle features of her face and slightly smeared her face painting.

“Inutai ….” That was Aratak’s voice. Inutai whirled around in fright and looked up at his tall figure. To look at her and to imagine Ainuk putting his hands on her only made the man angrier.

“I have to talk to you …” he began in a serious voice as she got up slowly. She did not know what he wanted, but no matter what it was, to see him after that awful train of thoughts felt like a stab in the heart.

“I don’t feel like talking Aratak, I’m sorry…” she whispered hoarsely. She wanted to leave, but he blocked her way.

“I won’t tolerate you becoming Ainuk’s wife,” he hissed, the anger in his voice was evident.

She stared at him startled that he knew about it and then shook her head with a weak smile. “Aratak … I’m…I’m going to leave the Werak. Soon. It will not be preventable in any other way.”

What did she just say? Leave the Werak and never return again? It should it be over so easily before it even started? No. As Inutai had finally forced herself past Aratak he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back. She just stared at him in disbelief and wanted to turn his grip, but he was too strong.

"Why are you doing this? Let go of me!” she hissed hoarsely and the lump in her throat was suddenly back when she looked deep into his brown eyes.

“ Inutai… By Banukai - we belong together, you know that!” He then whispered softly, his gaze still serious, but this time, deep affection swung in and she swallowed hard.

"Ah yes? …is that so??” She just replied in a shaky voice and he pulled her even closer. He did not let her go, but she knew it was true. They belonged together. She never felt it more than in this very moment when she looked at him. It was painful.

"Aratak… please… don’t…” Her attempts to defend herself became weaker until she resigned and finally surrendered to him. “Why do you do this Aratak… why?“ she whispered softly into the fur of his clothes and dug her fingers deep into the greenish cloth of his robe.

Aratak paused for a moment, but he finally uttered it. "Because I love you, Inutai.”

She bit her teeth into her lower lip as she heard this from his mouth and it filled her with more than she could ever have imagined. “… and I love you.” She breathed resignedly, almost unvoiced, but he heard it. The feeling that flooded his heart at that moment was indescribable. It was a blast of happiness with pure relief. For so long they had spent their lives side by side, day after day, never expressing their already long-felt feelings. Out of fear, out of respect, for whatever reason. Inutai smiled softly and gently reached out her hand to brush her fingertips tenderly over his beard. Feeling a touch from her was all he wanted. She pulled him slowly down a bit and tilted her head to him to gently touch his face with her icy lips.

First his cheek, then his chin, then his lips. Aratak closed his eyes and enjoyed that moment as she slowly closed her lips against his and kissed him gently. He felt his heart racing as if he were on a machine hunt, though he stood quite still and the glow of his nerves, as he put his hand gently to her cheek and returned her kiss. Deeper, more intimate.

For a moment, Ainuk was forgotten and the two only felt each other. All that was important was that their feelings were finally revealed. Inutai was so fortunate at the time that she believed that this must be the way the blue light felt. Aratak was no different.

His fear was unjustified and finally he could show her that he loved her. How much he loved her. And no matter who Ainuk was, which position he had, he could not have her. Not as long as he was here.