Sun Mote Copse Starchaser

Njord walked into the cavernous den. It was, by far, the largest he had ever seen. However, its size did not subtract from its warm and cozy feeling. Organic, curvaceous walls of clay had been softened over decades of use. The ceiling was decorated with a filigree of tree roots from above that, in some places, snaked down along the edges to the floor. A comforting, earthy scent complimented the appealing interior and, most importantly, the den was dry and free of water rot.

He took a few laps around and carefully inspected every corner. “This will make a fine home,” he approved. “Tha wind, rain, an’ snow willnae come in and tha ground is dry and soft. An’ you’re right… a whole pack could fit inside.”

Meerkat shared her thoughts and Njord did not hide the spark of surprise on his face. “Communal way, hmm?” he mused. Njord’s eyes looked up as he imagined this. “We havenae done this before,” he pointed out. Their family had always been strictly nuclear, and pup-rearing had never fallen to anyone else.

Yet the soft gaze towards his wife and the gentle cup of his ears telegraphed that he was open to the idea. “Tell me more, mo chridhe,” he asked. The red-tail did harbor insecurities about fatherhood that would never go away. But, perhaps now, he had grown beyond them.

He flopped on the ground and opened his arms to invite Meerkat into his embrace. "Paint me a picture of what our life... the life of our pack... would look like."