Ouroboros Spine gently nudging your soul

lótë smiled — warm but bashful. it was odd to feel as though everyone tiptoed around her, or else acted as if the bulky nanuk had truly died despite their good intentions. it was a cruel thought but the mother could not help but think that might have been better. marginally easier to swallow than to be left with the knowledge that she had been cast aside, worse yet that her children had been spurned as unworthy. 

she forced the vindictive trail of thinking aside to answer, ”i am doing well. brother sun shines upon my children, they grow tall and laugh often.” that was enough for her. ”how are you liking your new position?” lótë asked, wondering if it meant more responsibility for the huntress. before she could ask whether shikoba might like some help tracking the herds, wilwarin burst from the nest and beelined towards her favorite guardian. 

lótë could not help but smile, not minding that she was bypassed in the slightest. the cubs saw her everyday. besides, it was quite endearing to see them branch out and form relationships with the other adults in their lives.