Redhawk Caldera in the midst of sailing ships.

The pup, unaware of its mother's astute realisations, lay fast asleep, dreaming a dreamless sleep. In its sleep it was still, as it often was -- awake or asleep -- and only his heartbeat thudding against his mother's fur, and his tiny body moving slightly from its breathing showed that he was still alive.

The pup awoke when something touched its ears, and he let out a squirm of surprise. The pup did not often scream or yelp: he often just let out grunts and other squirmy sounds to show its pleasure or displeasure with a situation.

He tilted his little head and bobbed it into the air while sniffing, trying to establish what it was that had tickled his ears.