Stone Circle Steady as the beating drum

@Valette

It was early evening, and Steph was catching the beginning of the last rays of sunshine of the day. She had played just about as much as she would, and now she was relaxing. She wasn't as active as her siblings, it seemed, but what she lacked in  physical energy, she made up in mental exercises. 

She was constantly watching her surroundings, looking at the way things moved, trying to anticipate what would come next. Well, she watched at least long enough that her attention span would allow. She was still seven weeks old, after all, and her brain would still jump from one thing to the next rather quickly. But, she got more focused by the day. 

A bug came crawling out of the thinning grass and Steph lowered her head in a mock stalking position, her body low to the ground. Her eyes focused on the creature as it scurried around. Suddenly, she lurched forward, attempting to pounce on it. She missed, and the bug flew away. She huffed after it, then sat up, looking around once more.

Valette was about to call the pups inside of the den. It was getting later and she wanted them safely inside for now. She was really attached to her den. She felt like she could protect her cubs the most that way. However, before calling it out she saw Steph stalk forward. It was adorable to see. Valette sat down and watched her daughter.

Steph might have the knack for hunting. Valette wouldn't mind that. She grinned at the cutest little pounce ever. The pup didn't manage to get the thing she was hunting though. But Valette was proud nevertheless. She let out a happy woof. She stepped closer and licked her daughter over her cheek. "Good job!," she smiled.

Her daughter was quiet. It was almost like Ezra was twice as loud as Steph because she wasn't babbling so much. She hummed softly at her daughter.

She was alerted to the chuff of her mother and she turned to return her greeting, her tail wagging as she stood. She made a few incoherent babbling noises, but no words could really be made out. She was excited about the praise in her Mom's voice, as it gave her feeling she had done something right. She wasn't exactly sure what that "right" thing was, but she enjoyed it, nonetheless!

Having a second wind of energy, Steph bounded over to a small bush, and hid behind it, pushing her body to the ground. She was attempting to play hide and seek, nevermind Valette had watched where she hid. She watched to see if her Mom would find her.

Valette chuckled when Steph seemed to become more confident and gain energy from her praise. Valette liked that. She watched her daughter run to a bush and hide there. Valette chuckled and then placed her nose to the ground. "Oh no, where would Steph be?," she asked out loud and then started to follow her trail.

She knew quite well where she was but that was beside the point. Valette followed her trail and then peeked behind the bush. "Ha! Found you!," She grinned with a smile on her lips, going down through her front legs in a playful stance.

Steph giggled in her hiding spot, figuring her Mom would have a hard time finding her. Valette was coming fast, but Steph's attention span's ability to move on to the next thing was fast. A another bug was crawling under the bush, just in front of Steph, and her eyes went to it. Thoughts of the game was momentarily put on hold while she watched it scurry across the dirt. 

She was just about to go for it when a voice exclaiming that she was found startled her. She jumped and her body whipped around to face Valette. "Mom!" she exclaimed, not even realizing she said it. She giggled at having been scared and went into her own play bow to mimick her mother. Then, she bolted towards her, her intent to pounce on her shoulder.

Valette chuckled when she startled her girl. However, the mother was more surprised when the girl squeaked out her first word. Valette was amazed and honored that her first word was Mom. She wanted to shower her with licks but the other already was ready to pounce on her.

When Steph hit her shoulder Valette playfully let herself fall on her side. "Oh you got me!,' she grinned and rolled back on her stomach. Her tail was wagging before Valette herself got a bit of the zoomies. She dashed away and then jumped forward towards Steph in a playful bow before jumping up again and running a circle around her.

Valette fell to her side when Steph pounced her. For a moment, Steph felt a rush of victory. One day, she would realize the rush was instinctual for a predator such as herself. But, for now, it was simply fun. Her Mom didn't stay down for long, though, and was up and running back and forth.

Steph did her best to mimick Valette, but as her legs were much shorter, she didn't cover as much area as her mother. Still, she had a lot of fun trying. She thought she could pounce on her when she went into a play bow, but as Steph charged, Valette was up and running again. Steph chased after her, barking happily in their play.

Valette loved to play with her daughter. It made her energetic and overly excited. Such emotions she missed as a pup. Her parents splitting up and moving to another pack. Their mother being very kind and calm. Valette liked this. She liked the bustling and running around. She woofed happily and made some dodges while her daughter tried to chase or charge at her.

Valette settled after a bit letting Steph catch up with her. She playfully rolled over and showered her daughter with little licks. She was happy to be there. She chuckled softly. "Having fun?," she asked.

Steph did her best to keep up with her mother, but it seemed she was always a step behind. She tried to keep up her energy, but she was tiring quickly. So, when Valette paused and rolled onto her back, Steph dropped to her belly, returning her mother's kisses with gusto, but panting between them, as well. 

Still, she nodded to her mother's question. Lots of fun, Mama, she replied, smiling. As much as her spirit wished to continue, her body was done in, and a heavy nap began to beckon the young pup.

<3

She knew her daughter was going to be tired soon, but at least they had fun. This her daughter confirmed. Valette hoped that Steph would like hunting just as much as she did. She would love to hunt together with her daughter. Steph was starting to look like her as well. She had her dark coat and her eyes were shifting from blue to her eye color. For a moment she was convinced Steph would keep Ezekiel's blue eyes but she was pleased that her children had some her her as well as the other two were gray like Zeke. She gently curled around the sleepy girl instead of picking her up. "Sleep well," she hummed softly to her daughter.

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