Moonspear and here we go, life’s waiting to begin

Her whisky eyes shifted to appreciate the sight of Njord reposing a few yards away, though Meerkat swiftly returned her attention to the mouth of the den. Seal’s pale face appeared first, only to shrink back into the shadows like a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

Meerkat smiled patiently when both girls’ faces reappeared at the entrance of the ulaq, the spring air filling with the sounds of their cries. Of course she wanted to swoop in and comfort them, though more than anything, Meerkat wanted her daughters to understand there was nothing to be frightened of out here.

To prove her point, she glanced at her husband again, then flounced over to him. She nipped the air beside his cheek, then sprang away and dipped into a playful bow. Her rump wriggled as she winked at Njord, then promptly spun to face the ulaq. She thumped her paws and waved her tail, inviting Orca and Seal outside to play.