Northstar Vale It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then

@Lilitu @Ibis and anyone else who would be allowed in the den
set for just before sunset

She was passed out on her back, tucked into her mother's side, emitting a soft snore with every inhale of breath as her mouth hung slightly open and milky drool pooled in the place her lips met before oozing down her cheek. She was obviously bothered by very little. But why should she be? She had her mother's love and warmth, she had all the food she could want, and she had a sister to share the newness of the world with. Her life was perfect, and she had nothing to worry about as she blissfully snoozed, surrounded by the warmth of her family. 

She woke with a sputter and a tiny cough as some of her saliva had collected in the back of her mouth and eventually caused her to aspirate. She rolled over onto her belly, another cough shaking her tiny body. She sat there for a few moments, catching her breath before she realized she could see soft light cascading over her silver paws. And it was then that she noticed that she could actually see her tiny paws. She looked around and there was mom and sister. They were a little blurry still, but she knew it was them. 

She released an excited squeak, and wobbled over to look at her family. She just stared at them, in awe of what they looked like. She knew how they felt and what they smelled like, and now she knew what they looked like too. It was amazing, and her already perfect world just became even better. What else waited for them in the future?

Lilitu was asleep when Arielle let out the squeak, but that was okay. Like usual, she was mired in absolutely horrific dreams, filled with creatures she'd never seen (and she could see now!) and faces she didn't recognize. She was more than happy to be roused from the latest nightmare, and turned in groggy fashion toward her sister.

Wait. There was something different. . .

GASP! Lilitu rose to her paws as she realized that Arielle's eyes were now open, too! She lurched joyfully toward her littermate, blinking in exaggerated fashion. They were very pretty eyes, too, a darker color than her mother's glittering pair of jewels.

And now Arielle knew what the world was like, beyond the darkness (albeit a warm and cozy darkness) they had been born into. The sky was the limit for them.

She gave her sister a conspiratorial nudge, mouth agape, smacking her forepaws against the den floor.

Play wif me???

Arielle jumped a little at her sister's nudge, so lost in the newness of it all that she hadn't really been in the present. But she recovered quickly and was happy to do as Lilitu asked. Plus, playing with her was easily one of her favorite things to do next to eating and cuddling with mom. 

She copied her sister, patting her tiny paws against the ground as she let out a soft, playful growl. She jumped forward with a yip and attempted to grab Lilitu's ear between her teeth and gently grab hold of her. Her tail whipped back and forth behind her as an indicator of just how much she was enjoying today. She could see the blurry world around her and she had her family and she was spending time playing with her sibling. 

If she was able to grab onto Lilitu's ear, she would give a weak tug to pull her sister even closer.

An ear? Dafuq?!

Lilitu growled in half-surprise, half-reproach as she was pulled nearly off her feet by her sister. They were on even ground, now—both able to see. She had never necessarily pushed Arielle around, but she had exercised her more outgoing personality and newfound sight to her advantage.

But both their eyes were open, and perhaps she would get her comeuppance. No. . .not from sweet Arielle. Right?

She wrenched herself loose, the action only slightly painful, as milk teeth were not nearly as sharp as their adult counterparts. Lilitu head-butted her sister, gently but firmly, in the shoulder. You butthead! her gaze read as she pulled back, but a smile was blooming across her lips, nonetheless.

Arielle had no idea the effect her move had on her sister; as far as she was concerned, it was all play. Any sign of pain, though, and she would have backed off immediately, but since there was none, she happy to continue their little game. That was until her sister's firm head-butt had her pausing and looking at her with confusion. It was still a mostly playful move, but there was an undertone of reprimand, at least it seemed like it. 

A smile spread across Lilitu's lips then, and Arielle's tail began to wag. Then she jumped forward and attempted to plant little kisses all over her sister's face.

Lilitu snuffled as Arielle kissed her face, pinning her ears in feigned "do not want." The snuffles eventually turned into giggles, and then she started to embrace her sister in turn. She hooked a foreleg over the other girl's shoulders and attempted to push her down. If she succeeded, they would be a cuddle puddle of smiles and flailing limbs.

Ibis was sort of missing a Kodak moment, here.