Wheeling Gull Isle by the light of a burning donkey

i was hoping vesper would get time with father-uncle!

vesper felt father move and flipped to her back as he exhaled, his breath warm and humid. hunger roared awake in the child, a pavlovian response, for he often returned with meat and fed her regurgitated meals as she weaned. though maegi had provided her children with milk and sustenance for her entire life thus far, new associations were forming: mother was safety, warmth, calm, and father was strength, food, security.

(mostly food.)

she heard the same sound as mou. between that, her hunger, and father's sudden tension, it was enough to rouse vesper fully. the others were beginning to stir, but she selfishly wanted his attention all to herself— and she wanted out of the den.

dada, she said in a stage whisper, shifting now to her feet, head hanging lowly to watch him in the dim light of the den. 'n we go? meat? she was still too young to accompany him on a true hunt, but perhaps he would take her to a cache.