Of memories...

“Pikku, pikku…come see…” Riku took Rhoana’s small hand and led her out of the shelter, he ran with ease across the hardened ground. Rhoana attempted to keep pace with his long stride, though she was less then half his size.

“Come on Pikku…faster…you don’t wish to miss it!”

Rhoana bore a wide smile, one suitable for that of a child, innocent, unknowing and excited. They trudged ever further across the snow.

“How much further brother?” her tone had taken upon a note of panic, as a hurried glance backwards showed just how far they had gone. Riku remained quiet, still keeping a quickened pace.

The wind was bitter, but Rhoana was bound in soft furs. A cowl fitted closely about her reddened cheeks. She could not help but admire her brother’s trophies; he had many attached upon his garments. Teeth lining the bound edges of leather, holes bored through and attached in place. He was fairly young to have attained so much in a hunt, but he had learnt well from his father.

A ridge and drift of snow came into view, Riku pointed at it, eagerly flashing a boyish grin as he picked up Rhoana with both his hands, bundling her into his arms. He picked up pace and reached the ridge, settling her down carefully he gestured for her to remain quiet as they crouched there.

She does not recall how long they sat there, but she felt the cold setting in. In this time she watched as her brother removed a curved knife, suitable to gut a fish. He tinkered about with its handle, running a finger across the side of the blade until a gentle thud could be heard. He looked up at Rhoana, his smile returned and finger pressed to his lips. The thudding became more frequent and louder, a creaking of ice and crumpled snow could be heard upon the bitter wind. Rhoana’s curiosity got the best of her; she began an attempted crawl up the snowdrift. Riku let out a quiet laugh as he picked her up again.

“Oh Pikku, I should have known hm? You are a meddlesome one.” He whispered.

He smiled at her as he took her to the height of the ridge, and placed her on his shoulders.

“Do you see Pikkuinen?”

Rhoana looked down upon the open expanse, the horizon appearing endless. She noticed at once where the sound came from. The tusks from a beast that’s height scaled beyond that which seemed plausible, near dragged across the frozen tundra, its feet crunching upon the solid ground. A herd of Hirvi, elk, ran swiftly to the front of it as it slowly made its way across the snow.

“Mammutti!” Rhoana exclaimed in delight.

Riku chuckled and they sat and watched it trudge away into the distance, Rhoana clearly fixated by sights anew, she watched until the air became just a howl and the beast had disappeared into the endless white.