Hushed Willows The keeper of this host

The soft lilt of her voice caused those little ears to twitch, his droll smile widening as he took those last few bumbling steps to close the distance. She lowered herself and he arched his neck, his button nose bumping against her chin as a tiny pink tongue poked out to give babyish kisses. His tail wagged so much it was practically a blur, his little hips shimmying back and forth with the force of his glee.

The love pouring from Tavi's eyes was reflected right back at her, unconditionally. He didn't have a proper father; he didn't have any living siblings; and a plague threatened to wipe out his makeshift family of marauders. But Tambourine didn't know about these things and, anyway, all he needed was his mother, against whose chest he now pressed with a series of muffled, happy whimpers.