A devious smile played on the chocolate’s face. She was no stranger to ‘cozying’ up to whoever offered her a side to sleep by. Edrick had warmed her heart in the lonely nights of winter but as spring started to approach he had left in search of his life before her. In turn, she had come to share her den more and more with Los who stood sentry over her soul. She knew many of her friends did not share the same luxury. A ripple of worry caused her flesh to twitch. When was the last time she saw Coquette’s smiling face? It was a relief to hear another pack had opened its doors to some of the wanderers, though many of her friends may not have been welcome within the high rises of the mountains. She sighed to herself, eyes moving again to the innocence playing in the shallows of a pond. How life had gotten so complicated. How she yearned to save her daughter from such a fate.

Setting aside her misgivings and worry, she offered what she knew, and what had been presented to her. Taviora has given me shelter these past few seasons while I got my strength back. They are a friendly pack, and Hyrule has asked to anyone with information about loners being attacked to come to him with it. Soft ears flattened on her head and she tried to close her eyes against the memory of jaws seeking to kill her and her pups. He helped save my, and my pups’, lives when we were attacked. We’ve been sheltered there ever since. If we brought him something, information or otherwise, he might be open to extending shelter. It would depend on the individual though. He talks a lot about politics and trade... Both were concepts far beyond her and she did not want to extend an offer that was not her’s to do so. Hyrule had made a deal with her, and those who wandered with her, but she did not know how far that offer went. Their bargain had been repaid more than in full, by a debter’s terms she still owed and allowance she hoped she cleared up with friendship. Maybe she would talk to Tithe about it. Another sigh and she let those thoughts also slip into the either.

Masque’s head and face for a moment had disappeared under the surface of the water. Her body stayed solid on the mud and her tail sticking straight up like a pole to announce where she was. Wild bubbles floated and popped above where her nose snapped at whatever she saw in the water. There were incredible splashes and a strain on the pup’s body until finally a loud squelch broke through the noise and ended everything in relative silence. The pup looked around, a little dazed, with a large waterlogged branch in her jaws. Relocating her mother with her shining eyes she pranced over with her prize, body a quiver.

Mom! I beat the water monster! I freed the water spirits it had captured. They gave me the gift of its body! She laid the wood at her mother’s paws and tackled the young woman. Laughing, Taika rolled onto her stomach and pawed at Masque, both of them quickly getting more covered in mud. The affection and love between mother and daughter was palpable. No one could miss their adoration and the unadulterated innocence that hung between them.

The pup looked up at Liquid Amber from her place on her mom’s chest. She grinned at the white, her tail forever wagging. The water spirits send their greetings. Momma says I am a princess of fairies, a changling of magic- -born to dance among the stars. Taika finished for her child, pressing her nose to Masque’s muddy cheek.