Stone Circle Mad Love

Steph had fallen into a depression. The death of Keoni, her Aunt and sister going off on some adventure, and now she had this thing around her neck. She had mostly gotten used to it, but the weight still annoyed her often. She couldn't figure out what it did, if anything. It made no noise, and gave no indication was anything but to get on her nerves. 

Her head lifted from her paws when her mother's call rang out. Her tail wagged briefly, always happy to see Valette. She got up, the collar shifting around her neck, and padded through the forest. The past few weeks, she had found various spots to sleep in the forest. Valette hadn't kicked her out of the den, and she still slept there occasionally. But, Steph was a teenager, and as she aged, her need for indepence increased. Not so much that she ever thought about leaving; but enough that she wanted to find her own den. Plus, she knew Stark had been getting closer and closer to her mother. 

Valette came into view, and Steph's tail wagged again. She nuzzled her mother's neck in greeting. Hey, Mom, she said. What's up? she asked, wondering why Valette had called her.