Hushed Willows Back where I belong

She kept looking, up until the puppy swung his head in her direction, caught her gaze and grinned. Larkspur swallowed thickly and immediately dropped her eyes in a fit of shyness. By the time she gathered the courage to peek up through her lashes again, both mother and son had moved out of view, presumably exiting The Crook. Spur felt a small pang of disappointment. There was a part of her that wanted to go after them, but it was very tiny and didn't stand a chance against her innate anxiety.

When Pippin pressed closer to her, his snout touching her shoulder blade, Spur instinctively curled toward her brother's familiar, comforting warmth. "Morning, Pip," she whispered. She glanced past him, to where Harlyn and Silas were stirring too, rising to greet the day. The sight of them was always welcome, though she felt an ache over the missing Mordecai. "Wanna go outside with me?" she asked her quiet brother, making a point to seek and hold his gaze.