Bearclaw Valley A Feast for All!

When papa wrapped his paw around her, Nanook's heart nearly exploded from her chest. Her tail stormed the ground, and she pressed her face deeper into the warmth of papa's leg. If she hadn't been certain before, she was settled now that she would never ever let this moment go. She would stay pressed against papa forever, breathing in the scent of his fur that smelt familiar, but at the same time so very different from mama and Raziel's. She would hold papa here forever. But the he had other plans, and soon the cool touch of air replaced where his paw had pressed, and he nudged her again, only this time away from him.

The smell of food stained the air, and the sound of mama preparing their meals. Saliva formed in her mouth at the prospect of supper, but she did not run to mama. Where papa had held her still tingled with heat, and she turned back to him and plopped herself down in a mimicry. He wasn't going anywhere, so neither was she. The fact that Xan wouldn't budge only strengthened her resolve to stay. She eyed him now with a narrowed gaze, a challenge that lasted but a fleeting second before the pulse of heavy footfalls broke her concentration and she twisted around just to see Desna barrel past her, and Nanook trailed her larger sister as she ran straight into papa's legs.

Nanook felt none of the jealousy she felt toward Xan when her sister ran up to papa, but still she locked her gaze on Desna with a skeptical look. What could she possibly want from him? Papa didn't take long to answer her unspoken thought. He retched a pile of strange smelling food on the ground, and without hesitation, Nanook sprung forward to claim her place around whatever new thing he'd brought them. She wouldn't be left out again.

While Xan sniffed the meat, Nanook shot papa a questioning look, and though her skin prickled, she tested his word herself. "Ff-i-shhhh." She breathed the word, slow and quiet, turned it over in her mouth. Then she dropped her gaze to this fish and sniffed, just as Xan took a bite - an act that made her forget her reserve and uncertainty. Nanook pushed her head toward the slimy pile and slurped a taste, only to recoil at the flavour that filled her mouth. It was like nothing mama had brought them, and gave a funny tang she wasn't sure she liked. Nanook swiped her tongue around her lips, but the tang wouldn't go away, and for a few seconds she lost herself to the rhythm of cleaning away the taste. Only when she noticed Xan's glance in her peripheral did she let her attention shift, and she turned to him, ready to bristle or snap. But she stopped herself short, and she tipped her head. There was a different glint in Xan's eyes, and though she had no word to make sense of it, the look made her glance back at Desna. The sight of her - paired with Xan's peeved face - made her ticking thoughts click. A wily smile crooked over her face, her confusion replaced by mischief, and she eyed them both with an unsettled decision.