Stone Circle Morning

There’s a little gray face in the den mouth as she passes. Her jaws tense- mostly convinced she should continue on with her route and pretend she doesn’t see. Because she has no idea what to say  or how to treat a cub, or the things that they liked. What their capabilities are at this age.

She’d seen so many women fall brainstruck and melt at a puppies’ feet, snapping into an instinct of motherhood, seeming to know exactly what to say and act and how to care for them.

Tauris didn’t know shit.
And she certainly never planned to either.

But the cubs weren’t going anywhere. And her’s were coming soon. She supposes she needs to make peace with the idea at any rate. So she pivots her stride and moves slowly towards the den and the boy within it.

She clears her throat. “Kid… Hello.”