As Logan cradled his younger sister Ginny in his arms, he stepped through the doorway of their quaint, rustic home, greeted by the familiar, comforting aroma of cooking. Their mother, absorbed in her culinary tasks, hadn't noticed their arrival.
"Dinner will be ready shortly, you two go play for a while," Mother Wolf instructed, her focus still on the bubbling pots, her voice a soothing blend of warmth and command.
Curious, Logan approached her quietly, Ginny snug against his chest. "What are you preparing, Mom?" he inquired, peering over her shoulder into the steaming cauldron.
"You scamp, you're not" She began, her tone playful, but the words hung suspended as she turned and caught sight of Logan. Her eyes lit up with a mixture of surprise and joy. "Logan! When did you get back?"
She stared at her son, her expression a mix of astonishment and delight. Logan, her eldest, had been increasingly absent, his responsibilities pulling him away from the tribe for weeks at a time.
"I returned around noon, but there was so much to take care of back in the tribe," he explained, his voice tinged with fatigue yet happy to be home.
"And what's cooking? I'm starving!" Logan grinned, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.
With a tender smile, Mother Wolf replied, "We'll eat soon, very soon!"
The dinner was simple yet hearty, sweet potatoes and potatoes softened to perfection, melded with the sweet, sticky goodness of melted maltose.
"Kevin, call your brothers to dinner!" she called out to the children frolicking near the doorway. The table was set, and she served Logan first, honoring his return.
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"Ginny, come to Mom and give your brother some space," she said hastily as Ginny clung to Logan.
"It's fine, Mom, she's happy here with me," Logan reassured her, his voice gentle.
Laughing, he observed, "You've grown taller, haven't you, Ginny?" He offered her a piece of sweet potato drenched in maltose.
Amidst their lighthearted banter, Wolf Mother turned her attention to her eldest son, her expression thoughtful. "Logan, do you think I should go help Jane at her shop?" she inquired suddenly, causing a flicker of surprise to cross Logan' features.
"Mother, what do you mean?" Logan responded, momentarily taken aback. Kevin and the other siblings also turned their gaze towards her, puzzled by her sudden proposal.
Wolf Mother's smile was tinged with a hint of resolve as she explained, "Jane's managing to earn a good sum each month. If she can do it, why can't I? I might be of some help."
"But Mother, if you leave for Canyon City, what about Kevin and Ginny? They're still so young," Logan countered, concern creasing his brow. "And why this sudden interest in earning money?"
Wolf Mother's eyes softened, her gaze sweeping over her children. "Kevin and his brothers are quite capable now, and I can manage to look after Ginny as well. Jane is earning twenty or thirty gold coins a month; I believe I could do the same."
"But why the sudden need for gold coins, Mother?" Logan asked, confusion clear in his voice. He remembered how his mother had always been content with their simple life, never hankering after wealth.
Wolf Mother sighed, her voice filled with a quiet strength. "It's not about the gold coins for their own sake, my dear. It's about the tribe, the growing needs. I think Jane opened her shop because she sensed the financial pressures you were facing. She's doing her part, and I want to contribute too."
Logan felt a surge of emotion. He had always seen his mother as the pillar of their family, never seeking anything for herself, always placing them first.
"If it's money you need, I can provide," he offered earnestly.
Wolf Mother shook her head gently, her eyes meeting his with a deep love. "It's not about needing money for myself. It's about sharing the load, about making sure you don't have to shoulder it all by yourself."
Logan was moved by her words, feeling an unfamiliar moisture in his eyes, a testament to the depth of his emotions. "Mother, you're amazing," he said quietly, his voice thick with unshed tears.
The compliment seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment, she was speechless, her cheeks tinged with a blush. It was rare for her to receive such open praise.
Logan noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes as they reflected the firelight, adding a shimmering depth to her gaze. Placing Ginny gently on the ground, he took his mother's hands in his. "Don't worry, Mother. We'll figure this out together," he reassured her, his voice firm with resolve and affection.
Together, they stood by the fire, a family united not just by blood but by an unspoken commitment to support each other through every challenge.