HOME | DD

Description
Speedpaint with the new tablet. About an hour or so.

Previously | Going Home

The walk from fairbanks to the Issorartuyok valley had been one of the biggest challenges he'd face since he'd made it back to the US. His leg ached and he found himself relying more and more on the walking stick he'd fashioned out of a old pine branch. Snow was beginning to flurry down, fogging the autumn air with a haze of white. It had been so long since he'd walked these lands. A little over two years, he noted.

He knew he had to be getting close, and he considered setting camp for one more night. One more rise, he could get that far. Breaching the hill, he stopped in his tracks. The sight before him tugged at his chest, made his heart race. The lodge, and the scattered white gers. Home. The word seemed so foreign. Was this still his home? He wasn't sure, but it was the closest thing he had to return to.

The trek down the hillside, across the river and into the valley had taken great effort, but he was too close to set up camp. Tonight he'd sleep in a bed. His, if possible. There was so much to face. He knew he'd be declared dead, and he'd given Annakpok and Qinnik's name as his next of kin. There was no doubt the tribe believed he would never return. With a heavy weight on his shoulders, he began the final leg of his walk. Smoke trailed from the lodge and he grew close to hear the barks of Tokotas as they noticed the presence of a stranger.

As several of the alphas pack took off, barking and yipping, Qinnik's attention was pulled from her conversation in the lodge. She'd been spending the chilly evening relaxing by the fire with her sister, Ian, Ster and several of the council members. Getting up and excusing herself, she walked out to the rear of the lodge, onto the large, open patio. She squinted as she looked down at the figure that her and Anna's tokotas had run off to investigate.

Her eyes went wide as she began to make out the man's face. "That's impossible..."

Turning back for the door, Nikki leaned in, shouting her to sister. "Anna! Anna come quick!"

"It's Jackson."

Description
Speedpaint with the new tablet. About an hour or so.

Previously | Going Home

The walk from fairbanks to the Issorartuyok valley had been one of the biggest challenges he'd face since he'd made it back to the US. His leg ached and he found himself relying more and more on the walking stick he'd fashioned out of a old pine branch. Snow was beginning to flurry down, fogging the autumn air with a haze of white. It had been so long since he'd walked these lands. A little over two years, he noted.

He knew he had to be getting close, and he considered setting camp for one more night. One more rise, he could get that far. Breaching the hill, he stopped in his tracks. The sight before him tugged at his chest, made his heart race. The lodge, and the scattered white gers. Home. The word seemed so foreign. Was this still his home? He wasn't sure, but it was the closest thing he had to return to.

The trek down the hillside, across the river and into the valley had taken great effort, but he was too close to set up camp. Tonight he'd sleep in a bed. His, if possible. There was so much to face. He knew he'd be declared dead, and he'd given Annakpok and Qinnik's name as his next of kin. There was no doubt the tribe believed he would never return. With a heavy weight on his shoulders, he began the final leg of his walk. Smoke trailed from the lodge and he grew close to hear the barks of Tokotas as they noticed the presence of a stranger.

As several of the alphas pack took off, barking and yipping, Qinnik's attention was pulled from her conversation in the lodge. She'd been spending the chilly evening relaxing by the fire with her sister, Ian, Ster and several of the council members. Getting up and excusing herself, she walked out to the rear of the lodge, onto the large, open patio. She squinted as she looked down at the figure that her and Anna's tokotas had run off to investigate.

Her eyes went wide as she began to make out the man's face. "That's impossible..."

Turning back for the door, Nikki leaned in, shouting her to sister. "Anna! Anna come quick!"

"It's Jackson."