Stone Circle lookin' for a mind at work

Nanook knew that she deserved none of what she had today - but while only a few short months ago, Desna's forward display would have sent the Apaata shrinking deep into a shell of guilt and self-loathing, her words now brought a bashful tuck of her head, and a stirring she had no real words to describe. I love you still proved a struggle to say, but she hoped Desna understood from her actions she loved her perhaps more than she knew, even without the words to say it.

Nanook turned a surprised and gentle eye on her sister. "I didn't know." She had never acted for praise, nor worked for a gain other than to see her family thrive. She had only done what had to be done, as she knew all the pack worked together to do. Desna and the kids - "You gave me a second chance. A third one, if you count Silvertip. But you and Easthollow - you've given me somewhere to belong. A home." Her lips quirked with an unpracticed smile, awkward and wily, and a touch of the old Nanook shone through - the fiery girl who'd tumbled around with Desna, Sesi, and Xan, before life had grown hard, and before the winds had scattered them apart. "A family, I guess."

But her sister's mention of Steady troubled the Apaata, and she furrowed her brow. "You know you're a good mother - a great one. But sometimes, I wonder how things would have been if they'd had Steady..." and she bit her tongue, considering Ezekiel, and uncertain how her sister would take her words. "Well, I wish they had a father."