Dawnlark Plains the eyes of a child

she no longer trailed far from the den. one day, the scent of lilac would bring tears to her eyes and cause her heart to lurch. when she was older. but for now it was a comfort and these days she did not have many of those. she sat on the other side of the lilac bush and soaked up the early summer sun.

she roved the territory numb, fixating on her single purpose now. she would have to make up for the loss in resources Sunny's departure, the sustenance that would be needed by not one, but three nursing mothers. she couldn't say she agreed with her father's decision - look where it left them now - but nor would she broadcast her views. what was done, was done.

she nearly missed the small bundle of fur pressed near the base of a lilac bush, but when she did, her heart lodged somewhere in her windpipe. she lowered herself instinctively ears splayed in the slightest as she remembered clearly what had happened last time. when her stomach brushed the earth did she dare offer a "hi, kitten.".