Blacktail Deer Plateau I just called to say I love you.

Dauntless instantly registered his mother's distress and stiffened against her. He could tell his sisters had become upset as well. At Khoe's words, he felt himself start to shut down and go numb. She wasn't staying? In some ways, it seemed that this was inevitable.... yet, in others it seemed like reality was crashing in on him. He started to cry pitifully, not sure what else to do. He hoped his sisters would beg their mother to stay. He would do so himself, but they were so much better at communicating their feelings than he was. In the meantime, he just cried in a harsh, rasping way.