Qeya River sparrow's sorrow

there is a distinct wave of relief that washes over him as she answers his inquiry; glad to hear that she did not seek to replace ( however temporary it may be ) his father's leadership position with someone else. cerne had left them during their trip to moonglow but there was a new male that kivaluk didn't know personally ( or even impersonally ) by any means but had smelled during his travels of the pack's claim.

and though he was too young yet to understand the instinctual worry that the stranger might try to take his father's position while he was away... kivaluk feels it and errantly lets it gnaw at him all the same.

perhaps he considers it from others because he, himself, was competitive by nature.

good. he sighs; though he is still distrustful of the strange man. he paws at the ground for a moment, wondering if akkuma would understand if he brought these worries up with him. it was hard for kivaluk to know if akkuma would understand or not. they were both growing and changing.

it's not that i thought you'd ever replace papa— kivaluk launches into an hasty explanation as a new sort of worry settles into his chest. because i know you wouldn't. he finishes meekly, an apology writing itself across his facial features despite that sakhmet had not given him any indication that she'd taken offense.