Sanguine Cove sometimes i scare myself

@Monatalia

Aquene had not been herself lately, and she knew that. She was fighting through the grief that had torn through her in order to try and be there for everyone else, and she didn’t know how to stop. She didn’t know how to grieve; even with the passing of her own mother, she had shut down and focused on those around her rather than taking time to truly accept that she was gone… and then eventually locking it all up inside became easier. Doctors truly were the worst patients, and Aquene was certainly no exception. Perhaps that was why her attention had turned more to Nash, Oksana, the children… everyone in the Cove, after his passing.

And with that came her seeking out her daughter, a soft smile on her features as she looked upon the little girl who was growing up much too fast just like her elder sister had. “Mona…” She cooed out softly, beckoning her forward. “What are you getting up to today?” She asked as she offered a gentle nose to run against her daughter’s cheek, showering her with affection that she wholly deserved.

Aquene Slayer

Words are dripped

like honey from lips

Mona had decided to stick close to home today, letting her siblings wander off to do whatever it was they felt like doing. She had an old elk shinbone begging to be chewed, and she was gonna chew it where she wasn't gonna be bothered by the other pups. She didn't run into the others so much when she stayed close to her own den, so that's what she'd be doing. She knew she was running the risk of her brother or sister finding out about her bone and trying to take it, but she was more than happy to wrestle Magg away and Matos wouldn't be brave enough to try and steal it from her.

She'd been settled for a while, gnawing on her delicious treat, when she heard her mother's voice calling out to her. To her, specifically. Dark ears perked up and she froze her chewing, though she didn't remove the bone from her mouth. Then her mother was beckoning to her. It was too good an opportunity to miss - mom's attention all to herself! Mona hastily tucked her goody under some roots and scuffed dirt over it before happily trotting up to mom and accepting her affection. "Nothin' much," she said, tail wagging. "Just hidin' from Magg 'n Matos." She couldn't have them stealing her bone, after all! That was her goody!

All of their children were unique in their own ways, and that often left them at odds with one another. She knew that Mona had an affinity for not necessarily wanting to share what she had with others, something that Aquene would slowly attempt to coax her away from with time. She did not want to push any of her children away, like she felt she had done with Kateri by having the brood she had.

She explained that she was hiding from her siblings, and Aquene settled down beside her, offering a gentle nose to her cheek for a moment with a soft smile. “Why hide for your siblings? Have they done something to make you want to hide?” She asked curiously as she looked at the bone that the girl had been gnawing on, chewing at it. “That bone looks really good… did you father get it for you?” She asked again, curious… she savored these moments to spend time and bond with her children, to make each one feel special in their own way and to strengthen her own relationship with them.

Aquene Slayer