Stone Circle how rare and beautiful it is to even exist

The anxiety of fatherhood loomed over the man, especially over the last couple of days. A pit of dread settling heavy in his stomach, leading to sleepless nights and an irritable disposition. Not wanting to disturb his heavily pregnant wife, Siarut had taken to sleeping outside, his restless mind only offering him a couple hours sleep at the most. Other times he spent the night wandering the immediate area, double and triple checking nearby caches.

This morning was different though, as he returned just as the sun was awakening to find Nanook amidst her contractions. Worry grasped his heart once again, and he paced back and forth across the entrance of the den. So caught up he hadn’t noticed Valette’s arrival until he heard the faint sounds of his firstborn. The tiny whimpers that reached his straining ears, froze him mid step. Sia’s breath caught in his throat as he turned toward the sound. He was officially a father.

As much as that thought warmed him it also terrified him. His own father hadn’t been perfect (arguable he was a bastard) and Siarut had no intention of raising his children in the manner he himself had been raised. But how could he know! He was terrified of messing something up, of saying or doing the wrong thing. What if in the end, he was just like his father.

Glancing at the sky he realized the day was half gone. But still he waited, this was his wife’s time. Only she could grant him permission to come closer, he had no intention of stressing her. Despite his desire to come closer.

It was still many hours before he heard his name on Nanook’s lips. He offered Valette a small smile, and a ’thank you’ with the tip of his head. She took up his spot outside the den, and he was extremely grateful. Even though he wished his own siblings could be here, he was finding a surrogate sister in the dedicated woman.

Siarut approaches slowly, afraid to disturb the tiny bundles. His olive gaze flicked between them and his exhausted wife. “Nanook.” his voice was gentle as he finally reached her. His head bowed, and he pressed his forehead to her own. “Are you alright? Are-are they alright?” It wasn’t often that his emotions got the better of him. But this, this was the happiest he had been in far to long. She nodded gently at his questions. And Siarut was content. They had only to name them.

He had been thinking of names they could give them. They had already decided on their middle name. Although it was a slight bend in his family traditions, they had decided to give the litter their middle name rather than let them come to one on their own. Of course if they choose to add another when they were yearlings, Siarut would have no qualms about it.

"Selamuit." — the northern lights.
"Kallik." — lightning.
"Taktuq." — fog.
"Ikiaq." — red spruce.

Siarut glanced at his wife wondering if she held any objections. Finding none. He smiled softly, and gave each of the them a gentle nose goodnight, just as he would every singly night of their lives until they told him to stop. Life was perfect. A true happy ending...