Northstar Vale I couldn't bring myself to hold you

It had been two weeks since her confrontation with Chaudry. He had not visted her since, and now she was hearing news of Pala suddenly leaving with her grandsons in the middle of the night. It all left her feeling worried, maybe a bit afraid. Tonight cold rain pounded outside her den, winter bearing it's ugly head a final time. She felt compelled to call for @Noctaryn with a simple excuse; a need for a meal. With the hope that he was awake and able to hear, she howled out just this.

Silent as she waited, she looked down to Chandra. Her little girl was doing well, hitting all the right milestones except one; she was yet to stand on her own successfully. Soon she would be old enough to leave the den, and so Viskani could only hope that she would do more than crawl before then. In most cases she would know exactly what to do, but this sort of problem had never been presented to her.

Letting out a sigh, she rested her head upon her paws.

Never too far, he heard the matriarche’s call. He had just settled in for the night, but he was a man who kept his promises. With a heaving sigh, he pushed himself upright and moved.

Rain pelted him as he stepped out of his den, the rolled-up gift held gently between his teeth. He had waited too long—it was time to present it. The fur had been prepared well enough, and though he had been summoned, he wanted an excuse to visit Viskani and her little one.

“I heard your call,” he announced as he entered, pausing at the mouth of the den to shake the excess water from his fur before stepping inside.

“What do you need?”

The den was dry and warm, lulling him with its comfort. His eyelids grew heavy, his body weighted down by the inviting warmth. But he forced his gaze away from the tempting space beside Viskani, instead lowering his head to place the gift before her. 

It was the pelt of an adult fox, a kill he had made just past the outskirts of the Vale’s boundaries. A traveler assisted in its preparation before he went on his way. 

“Oh—this is for Chandra,” he added, his voice softer now. “To… keep her warm. Or… to cuddle.”

His eyes flicked from mother to daughter, a small smile forming as he watched them. “How is she?”

Noctaryn came to her promptly, a gift held in his jaws. The sweet gesture brought a smile to her face. While she had planned to ask for a meal it was not truly needed, and so she pushed it from her mind. She was just happy to have him here.

Oh, that gift is perfect! She exclaimed, tail thumping on the ground next to her. I was worried about her getting too cold. We've had some rain trickling inside.

Gesturing for him to come further in, she gently took the pelt and draped it over Chandra. Come, sit. Maybe the rain will calm down while you're in here.