Stone Circle anyway, you know what this is all about

She came creeping to the mouth of the den on her belly, having been met by Gunnar further afield. The reek of fresh rabbit clung to her - and so did the rich textures of autumn.

As Sanja arrived she sought to view her children, and counted them: one sleeping, two sleeping, three -- where was three? A momentary panic flutters her heart-strings. She is tense, nearly whale-eyed, and about to reverse her course.

Had three escaped from the den somehow? Was he wandering the woods on his little legs? The new mother wanted to sound the alarm, and only at the last second saw a shape by the den mouth, hunched within the interior, that she recognized.

Air returned to her lungs and Sanja reached to draw him close in a needy hug.