Blacktail Deer Plateau mischief managed

She could have found herself humbled by the hugeness of the wilderness, yet instead the little puppy drew in a breath, held it a few seconds, then let out an explosive round of barking, as if to say, Bring it on, world! The tip of her tail waving, she looked over her shoulder for the adults' approval, accidentally tripping herself and lurching forward. Luckily, she managed to strike out a paw and find her balance before face-planting again.

Peregrine looked on without comment, yet Blue Willow spoke to her in soft, friendly tones, so Osprey smiled and pranced over to her, sniffing idly at the same foreleg she'd "killed" earlier but making no effort to bite it. Instead, she slung herself into a seated position, balancing her weight on one pudgy thigh and leaning against the Healer's foreleg as she continued to peer at the great, big world beyond the den.