Hushed Willows The keeper of this host

The light drew him, for reasons Tambourine didn't question or even contemplate. He simply scrambled in that general direction, lapsing into silence as he passed through the cavern's mouth and exploded outdoors for the first time in his life. He froze just outside the doorway, not because of any kind of hesitation but simply because the view (and brightness) absolutely arrested him. He crouched there, eyes wide and mouth gaping as he took in the utter vastness of it all.

His eyes began to water but Tambourine didn't know any better. Thankfully, they adjusted after a moment and he prepared to keep going when a sound drew his attention. His head snapped to his left to regard the dark figure calling out to him. Displaying not an ounce of shyness, the little boy hobbled toward the she-wolf, aware of his mother's presence looming behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to grin at Tavi, which caused him to trip over his own front feet and topple against the stranger's hind leg.

"Oo-ee-errrp!" Tambourine cried as he went down, the garbled words punctuated by a boyish bout of giggles.