Morningside Cuesta save for a better future

Night had a strange way of sneaking up when least expected. Where the sky had been decorated with lavender and peach only moments before, there were varied shades of black and blue. Khoe sat outside of the den, not too far, but still far enough to be able to savor the few moments she had to herself. The only wolves who had dared come this close to the pups were family, but they wouldn't remain hidden forever; soon, they would be moved to the rendevouz site, unless Grayday decided to make the move before they got a chance.

Khoe sighed and looked down at her paws as they rubbed against the fresh soil. There were so many things running through her mind; decisions to be made, talks to be had, and feelings to be hashed out. But she felt stuck in the den, as if there was no room for her to turn or move. For every part of it that she loved, there was another part that she hated. She just wanted to breathe again.

While the rest of her siblings were sleeping, Arushi went out to find her mom. She had finally gained her ability to hear things, and while at first all of these senses seemed scary, she now felt complete. On still semi unstable legs, she wandered out of the den, listening to the sounds of the night birds and glancing at the lavender patch in the pale moonlight. Even scent was exciting, for she always knew that her family was around. It took her a moment to find her mom, who was just another speck of black on an endless black horizon.

But she saw the way her mother seemed to glow in the light, and she could smell her too. Calmly and happily, Arushi walked over and sat beside her mom. She looked up at Khoe with her big icy blue eyes and then said, Ama wha oo dooin? It wasn't the best formed sentence, but it was nevertheless a sentence.

Khoe jumped up at the sound of her daughter's airy voice, though the initial defense was replaced with affection once she saw who it was. Arushi, you scared me, she laughed. It might have seemed silly to have been frightened by a toddler, but when one was as small and unprepared as Khoe, the reaction was based on instinct. What're you doing away from the den, huh? Eya pramāda, ādaraya. Khoe gave her daughter a lick to the cheek before corralling her under her belly. 

There were too many dangers out here for a girl as small as Arushi, especially when her unique coat projected her so loudly to any lurking eyes. Khoe thought that Grayday was watching, but maybe he'd had the same thought. She would have to make sure this didn't become routine, as there was no telling what could happen the next time.

Khoe jumped when Arushi spoke, and the young girl froze. Was something happening? Danger? Was her mom ok? She looked around wildly, assuming that it couldn't have possibly been her that had surprised her mom. But her worries went away when her mom relaxed, a laugh and a smile dancing upon her lips. This made Aruru smile and giggle in return, then she pressed her small wet nose into her mom's leg. Khoe drew the painted girl into her chest, and Arushi snuggled as close to her as possible.

Looking up at her with puppy blue eyes, she spoke in her light but gravelly voice, Ama, ummmm love oo! She said, a long pause and umm as she tried to decide on her words. She had known that she wanted to say something, but what she hadn't been quite sure. She now looked at her mom with a big grin, waiting for a response.

Mhm, Khoe sighed with a smile, Mamat oyāṭa ādareyi. Lavender was the sweetheart of the group, and it made her mother laugh to think about just how different they were in that sense. At one point, Khoe had been kind, thoughtful, caring, but those days were long gone. With motherhood and loss came a new woman, and she feared that the same would happen to Arushi. She sighed and bent down to nuzzle the small girl, admiring for a moment just how peculiar and yet magnificent she was.

With a sing-song lilt and a small smile, Khoe began to sing, You're such a princess, a beautiful little queen.

Khoe being the only one in the family that spoke Sinhala, Arushi hadn't quite caught onto it as much as she had English. But she would try to learn both, it would make her mother proud. She didn't know what her mother had said just now, but her voice had been so loving, that Arushi assumed it had to be something good. In an attempt to replicate it, Arushi hummed back at her, Aaaadaaa reee! Her mother bent down to nuzzle her again, and the red merle wolf pup accepted it with a nuzzle in return.

Khoe now sang to Arushi, that she was a beautiful queen. Arushi didn't know what that meant, but it sounded nice. She liked to sing and hum, so she sang with her mother, Boo keen, boo keen! She swayed with the rhythm, her whole body rocking slowly side to side.