Northstar Vale the finite mind cannot grasp the infinite

The words came like twin punches to his gut.

First, that this man was his father, returned from whatever ridiculously long mission Germanicus had assigned him, and second, that his mother had also returned so soon after leaving.

Nanuq had been on the cusp of leaving himself, desperate not to lose his mother the way he had Kallik, but word of his twin in another neighbouring pack caused his paws to become stuck and uncertain. It was impossible to weigh his mother against his brother, but if Nanuq had to choose, it would be Siku every time.

He tried to wet his lips, but his tongue was sandpaper as it scraped across them. He could feel his pulse pounding in his neck and his ears both and there was a burning sensation behind his eyes he didn't yet recognize. Kallik went on and Nanuq had no words in response. Aquene had left without saying anything, but he had left without saying anything first, and he still missed her terribly. He could hardly refute Kallik's claim that she missed him.

As for Kallik... Nanuq hated Germanicus for several reasons but primarily for sending his father away on a mission from which he might never return. Now that Kallik was here, Nanuq grappled with feeling relieved that he was back and angry that he had left at all. These were feelings he couldn't process in mere minutes; he had no idea how to respond and it showed in the way his tail hung low and his ears pressed backward.

In the end, all he could do was croak, are you here to make me go back to Mereo?