Stone Circle When the party is over

Since there are so many we will work in rounds. This will be a new round. No posting order. You can post multiple times in a round just make sure there is at least 24 hours between your posts.

Valette didn't want to think what would happen out there, the what ifs. She turned her focus on the four children. "Don't you worry," she whispered, voice trembling. "Its alright-- It's alright." She wanted to tell them how their mother is such a badass and that soon, she would come to tell them all what a great protector she was. It would be such a good story. However, she didn't. The idea that she might promise them that Nanook would return, while she was not even certain that they all would survive. Nanook was the strongest and fiercest person she knew. Nanook was indestructible. She would live.

Valette could hear the sounds coming from outside. She flattened her ears. She decided to turn her attention to the children. They needed her. They should be protected, as she promised. She nosed over Taqtuk. "I know. I am here," she spoke. Finding more strength by thinking of those pups. She was not going to promise the child anything. The girl had her right to cry out for her mother. She didn't want to hush her. Valette tried to tune out the sounds outside as terrible as it was. She had to focus on the little ones and make sure that they had some support from her. She let out low woofs to the child to chime with her a bit.

She felt something by her paw and noticed little Kallik. "You are all being so brave," she hummed, starting to have her voice in a low comforting hum. She licked over the young male and kept her muzzle close for comfort. Selamuit joined and she nosed over him as well. Valette turned to Taktuq and to Ikiaq, nudging them close together. "Together is good," she assured. The pups probably didn't know this but they were giving the female comfort too by snuggling against her. "Together is strong," she kept speaking.

Outside the sounds silenced, and Valette was fearful that the cougar was coming to the den. She wasn't hearing anything, though perhaps sobbing? She wanted to look but didn't want to risk it. She stuck protectively over the children, waiting for that moment of terror that that cougar would stick his head in the den. That moment never came. Valette hoped that it would be Nanook who came back. Then she heard the cry for no, a male. It was Siarut. Valette heart clenched. Nanook. Her sister had to live. But her hope was crashing. She looked down at the children, eyes teared up at the thought. She didn't wish this on any child.

Valette listened. Silence had settled again. She woofed for Siarut, though she would not leave the den. Valette would not have those pups be alone for one second while they were terrified. She would be their support system. She had seen so many deaths over her years but knowing her sister might be gone was a tough blow to take. She also wondered about Arlette and Kaito. It was so silent. Where they? She shook her head in terror and woofed louder for Siarut. She had heard him, right? The cougar had to be dead or fled with this silence. She hoped it was dead.