She had been peering curiously into den, her tail thumping happily against the ground. The rudeness with which she looked into someone else’s home was one of innocence, her youth and inherent kindness shining from her eyes. Always one to stand her ground, she was surprised and pushed out of the way when the large adult came out of her den. There was a quiet yip as the pup twisted to right herself. Big paws took her in a circle and she looked up at the giant Alphess, her tail still controlling her back end.

A brash smile spread over the girl’s face. Mischief and daring glinted from under her brows. Teeth bared in her smile and her nose wrinkled even as she laughed. I will bite them back! Her fur fluffed up for a breath, making the small pup look like an intimidating poof before settling again when she looked at the size difference between herself and Aithne. Thinking better of her previous words, she amended her statement, thinking there was a chance this large wolf might have taken it as a challenge. ...Maybe I would not bite you… Her words were frank and a little distracted when she looked back in the den. Squealing and squalling deeper in the den caught her attention and her big ears trained on the pups. One rule of etiquette, or self-perseverance, did tell her not to actually enter a den once she knew there were pups present, even though soft whines of desire issued unciously from her lips.

Attention flicking back the the Empress she tilted her head in confusion. Mavrick? She was not completely sure what she was being asked. Never had she been claimed as someone’s child, nor had she ever referred to her savior by his name. She was not even entirely sure she knew her own name. Big Wolf called her ‘little flea’, but she did not think that was actually her name. Her memory reached back into the fuzzy haze. All she could grasp in the memory was being curled under the sweeping needled branches of trees. Big Wolf calls me Flea, but my name is Pine. She declared, her back foot scratching at her ear for a second. I don’t think I am a flea. But I was found under a pine!

Excitement sparked in the pup when the even younger puppy made its way to the front of the den. At once, Pine’s body dropped to the ground and she wiggled closer to the recent born. A little ‘princess’! Her tail was fanning wildly behind her. Princess of Diveen does not like playing in the mud. Pine’s green eyes looked up questioningly at Aithne even as her paw creeped forward, obviously about to gently ‘boop’ Aster. Does this one?