She woke to an array of wonderful smells: the earth around her, dry and warm; Sen, curled affectionately against her back; and the three little ones, tucked into her belly. They made their jerky puppy movements against her, and breathed their puppy breaths into her fur, a wonderfully pleasant sensation. She shifted a little, stiff from sleeping so long, and pulled herself into a stretch between Sen and their babies. A sigh escaped her, half soreness and half joy, as she rested a smile on him. “Ahoy,” she said sleepily, pressing her muzzle into the fur of his neck.

The first word they had ever spoken rang in her ears, and she was momentarily lost in how far they’d come since their chance encounter in the forest. From strangers to little family. The small smile on her lips warmed her through. A movement at her paws drew her attention, and she turned to watch Mireille wriggling blindly along the length of her front leg. She laughed in surprise and leaned forward to grab her adventurous daughter, setting her back in between her siblings. “You can’t leave me yet,” she said softly, bumping Reian and Roamin affectionately with her nose.

A long, peaceful moment passed, and then there was a bark at the outer tunnel of the den. She was alert, rolling awkwardly onto her stomach to face the entrance and dart through it, if need be. Even Sen’s presence couldn’t calm the uncharacteristic growling that built in her throat, gravelly and powerful. They said everything an intruder needed to know, and that Hush could not say. When Niviaq spoke, she jumped, startled back into her normal state of mind. Disconcerted, and a little embarrassed, she let herself relax and moved through the tunnel, so they could meet face-to-face. Whatever the reasons for this visit, she wasn’t thrilled about inviting a stranger into the den.

She stepped, blinking, into the sunshine, and took in the stranger. “Hello, Niviaq,” she said pleasantly enough. “I’m Hush.” Now at least they weren’t total strangers. She considered for a moment, eyeing the basket between her visitor’s paws, and then offered her a friendly smile. “Reian, Roamin, and Mireille are all in good health, but we’d certainly appreciate any help you can give them. Being born seems like a stressful experience.” With that, she nodded to the entrance of the den, intending that Niviaq join Sen in the birthing chamber – there just wasn’t room for all three of them. Once the babies were looked after, she intended to ask about her own pains, but the newborns came first. In the meantime, Sen would ensure there were no shenanigans below, and she would ensure that all was well around them.