Stone Circle Family

@Keoni and @Nikai around the den so Pups are welcome too!

Sunny left this morning. After that Valette had gotten little sleep. As promised she would have to tell Nikai and Keoni. Once the sun had risen more into the sky, she let out a howl for the two of them. She was eager to see both of her older children. She felt a bit guilty that she spend most of her time with the young ones.

Valette nudged them outside to play around the den. She would keep watch while she would wait for the two others to arrive. It made her happy, her whole family together. It would make her miss Steady less. She still missed him, especially with little things. When the pups did something cute and she wanted to share it. But Steady wasn't here anymore. Ezekiel kept his distance too, maybe she had been too harsh, but then again, she only made him back off when they were smaller. Perhaps he had gotten the wrong message.

The girl blinked tiredly, squinting her gaze against the autumn sun before rising stiffly and making her way towards her mother's den. She arrived soon enough, announcing herself with a faint chuff and a wagging tail, setting herself down in a sphinx-like position near the mouth of the den, groggy gaze falling brightly on her mother. The fire of her youth had faded, in truth, the girl had softened and grown, glad to stick around the territory and her family. The loss of her voice had changed her, as had age and the death of her father, into an individual liked more to water than to fire; adaptable and collected. Her fierceness had not vanished, simply retreated into her to come to light only when required.

The girl peered into the den, the smell of milk and pups prominent, and canted a lobe towards the entrance, curious if any of the tiny things would emerge. She sincerely hoped so, she liked the little sort-of-siblings very much

Steph was slow to rise this morning, even at her mother's nudges. The world would simply have to wait a little longer for Steph to grace it with her presence. But, eventually, she stretched and yawned and her body became vertical. When the light at the entrance of the den was blocked by a figured, Steph assumed it was her mother. But, as the wind brought the scent, she realized it wasn't Valette. But, it was a friend. 

Her tail wagged at remember the female who had played with her, and she stood to come out of the den. She greeted Keoni with puppy licks and whines, as they were accepted. She was careful to watch the body language of others to see if she should back off.

Valette smiled when she saw Keoni. She had become so quiet. Valette wished she could hear her voice again. The female didn't want to be selfish though. She knew Keoni went through a lot and she wouldn't force her to talk. If she felt better not to do it. Valette came out of the den and greeted Keoni before sitting down outside.

She let the pups decide what they wanted to do today. "Hi Keoni. I wanted to say that Sunny left to join his father's pack again," she spoke. "He told me to tell you. I'm sorry your friend left but it seemed an emergency," she explained to Keoni. She glanced at the interaction between her and Steph. She loved her family dearly.