Stone Circle won't hide her under a bushel, no

Day wouldn't go to her like he wanted to, but he hoped a wag of his tail and a more genuine smile would be enough to console Valette. He knew she was only trying to help; it was just a touchy subject for both of them. He was grateful, but he couldn't find it in him to accept her charity. Pride was a strange thing.

"You are helpful," he assured her, tail still whisking - until she shared her news.

Althaia had been killed? Here in the territory? A pup had gone missing?

Day hadn't know the woman well, but she'd been sweet to him when he'd met her, and her kids were all adorable. In Day's mind, however, it was a wolf with a darker pelt being beheaded, and his own pups on the line. One of them taken, their mother murdered, and all while he'd been away, leaving them to their fates. Like his mate, his reaction was more worry for his own family than actual sadness for Althaia's passing - though there was plenty of that, too.

His breath came out more harshly when he glanced to the side and saw Amber standing there, eyes blazing and fur pricked. He stared until his heart stopped pounding and then looked back to Valette, feeling lost.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here," he murmured, drooping almost imperceptibly.