After seeing @Brielle off to sleep, Adelard began his nightly festivities. The cub was old enough now to follow if she chose, but there was something comforting in old routines. And, the ever-lurking shadow of a father preferred his youngest to do as she was told and expected to do. He kissed the downy white fur atop her crown then set off into the woods.
He counted the few caches he had kept and checked the scattered trails of prey he had been keeping an eye on. He ran to the meadows and circled back along the river. Somewhere along the way back to the little place he called home, he stopped and sunk down into the earth. Sprawled along the forest debris, he let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. Adelard just needed a tiny bit of time for himself...