Bearclaw Valley MUCH HAPPY

Leo was a stupid-head. Sesi had thought so from the very moment he arrived, yapping and squealing, into the middle of her life.

But try as she might, Sesi could not hate him. He fit easily into the homogeneous mass of Bearclaw Valley children, absorbing and contributing until he was just as much one of the gang as she was. This was confusing for Sesi, who had grown accustomed to working hard whenever a New Thing needed to be incorporated into the daily routine. Nothing ever came easy.

Against her better judgement, Sesi followed Leo when he escaped the den that day. She tip-toed after him, skinny body pressed low to the ground. Leo, on the other hand, was the very epitome of noise - he thump-thump-thumped his way to the nearest boulder (medium-sized rock) and lunged at it, making all manner of fierce noises. Sesi paused a short distance away, cocking her head in confusion. Had Leo sensed some Bad Thing that she - the proven queen of sensing Bad Things - had not? Sesi narrowed her eyes and squared her shoulders, siphoning bravery from some unknown source. "Bu!" she barked at her adopted brother, keeping her distance from his rock. "Brrr-uh!"