Bearclaw Valley Pack your bags.

Nanook saw Xan approach her, and his passing nudge drew her back to the onslaught of what they faced. She tracked him back to where papa stood as a mighty fortress and her gaze lingered there. For a second she made her choice, sealed in the shift of her body toward papa and Xan. But mama's voice broke her and she whipped her head back around.

The air still sparked with energy, but mama's voice held quiet as she gave Nanook the ultimatum again. Go with daddy, or come with me. Nanook offered silence in return, and a withdrawn stare. Her thoughts churned within; she could make this stop. She could bite Desna again - mama and papa had both come looking for her then. Maybe if she did something really bad they would forget whatever bad thing had happened between them. She would take the punishment if it could stop whatever was happening now.

But she couldn't bring herself to do anything but watch. With Desna and Sesi herded by a man she didn't know, and with Xan standing firm at their father's side, Nanook stood alone. She was an island, and even more of one as mama turned from her and walked away.

She loved her mother as much as she fearer her, and the sight of Scarlett's shrinking form made her stomach lurch. Nanook passed one final look to Xan and papa to reassure herself they hadn't left her, too, before she lunged in the direction Scarlett scored across the land. This wasn't her choice, but she couldn't do nothing. Her voice rose as it had before her ears had opened, in shrill demands for mama to stop. With every step a twisted burn welled in her heart and replaced the confusion and fear.

One thing she knew: Nanook would return to papa and Xan with mama and her sisters by her side, and they would live as a family like they had before. This thought pushed her on, and she didn't even consider she might have seen the last of her father and brother for a very long time. Papa and Xan would wait for them. They had to.

Hope I didn't assume too much. Let me know if I should change anything. This whole thread is pretty much heartbreak to the max.