Stonewatch Timbers bring me back to earth

OOC: Want to wrap up with your next post? 

Hope filled the woman's gleaming eyes as she studied the little girl's reactions. There was very little at first, but all at once, the atmosphere changed. Ari took her words, staring back up at the pinprick sky with renewed attention. Raela couldn't help the slowly widening smile that spread across her face as she listened to the child's quiet words. She nodded at the first question. “Mhmm,” she reaffirmed softly. “Amazin,” the child drawled, and Rae grinned ear to ear. Almost as reassuring as the fact that she found the girl unharmed, was seeing her renewed comfort in the notion of her true father's presence. Her tail thumped delicately into the dirt at the forest's floor; her gaze joining in with the tyke's until she spoke once more.  This time she was quick to answer. In hushed tones Raela replied. “Yes, he's still here.” For a moment she wished she'd known the man better, but even if she hadn't Raela knew the former Patriarch would be more than pleased with what she was doing for his darling daughter. Minka would be, for sure. The moment grew bittersweet as a recollection of Tolas stole her focus. Yeah, still here... she mused, her smile fading. She might have been old enough; experienced enough to realize that he was indeed gone, but there were always these moments that he didn't feel so far away. If she could preserve this for Marianna, she would do whatever it took.  While it was not the spot where he'd died, it seemed as fitting as any for a place his spirit could lurk. Better yet, it was a good place for a lost daughter to return to when she needed that support; to see falling stars or hear singing in the trees. The notion goaded her into further agreement. “If any place belongs to him, this is it,” she concluded, stooping down to touch the tubby girl's shoulder affectionately. Her mind returned to the fact that it was about time they returned to the den, and to safety. Raela rose to her feet once more; regarding the pup with kind eyes. “I bet your mother would love to hear about what your father's done for you tonight. You want to go tell her?” Her tail flicked back and forth a couple times as she turned, waiting to see if Ari would take the bait.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

“Wow,” Ari murmured, glancing around the forest once as if her father might suddenly appear. If she had the words, she might have said more – as it were, she could only stare around the still trees and back up to the sky. She couldn’t catch a falling star (though that might not stop her from trying again, if she ever witnessed the phenomenon at a later date) and the timber forest wasn’t singing, but the child had no reason not to believe Raela. Somewhere, her father was here. The actual father, the one she didn’t know, but the one that her mother and Kova loved very much – and that meant something to the little girl.Now that some of the excitement had worn off, a loud yawn escaped her small jaws, the pup giving her loose pelt a shake. After a moment of consideration, she got to her feet, and offered her mother’s subordinate a nod. “Yeah. ‘kay. Let’s tell momma,” she agreed easily – Minka had told her about the singing, but wouldn’t she love to hear about the stars? Perhaps she and the alpha could return here sometime and she could show the woman just what she meant.

But for the time being, the pup trailed after the older woman easily, settling into an easy gait as they returned to Round Stone Crest.

Exit.

 

A wild dissertation appears!