Stone Circle When the party is over

Something was wrong, and not in the way that Ikiaq usually felt like things were wrong. Not like he was just uncomfortable and uneasy, but that he was actually very scared and he wanted his mother. It wasn't Valette's fault that she could never match up to Nanook - it was Ikiaq's own reliance on his mother and his need for her to be nearby that was the problem. Nanook was pretty much everything to the boy, safety and comfort and security. He needed her, and while he liked his aunt okay, he did not appreciate her getting into his personal space like that. Nanook and Siarut, and his littermates, would be the only ones that he liked being touched by. 

The boy backed up and frowned, confused, and wrinkled his nose. That smell... this metallic tang... it was gross and thick and was wrong in every single conceivable way. And everyone was upset and things were so bad. So, so bad. 

"Nuh!" he argued against whatever was being said by his aunt, and tried to get to the entrance - his mother was out there! - but she was blocking his way. Blocking him from getting to his mother, who was outside with all these bad noises. Bad smells, bad everything. He knew it was bad out there. 

His dad's voice came from outside and Ikiaq let out a loud cry, wanting his attention and trying to get his parents - both of them - to come back. He needed them, needed Nanook so much. 

Baby blue eyes looked up when Siarut entered the den and he hurried to his father's paws, letting out a loud, confused whine. His body shook, terrified and confused and worried. He had no idea just how much this moment would define the rest of his life, down into his very core. How much weight the lack of Nanook would have in his life.