Hushed Willows You were trying to wear me down, down

Had little Prialux's ears opened yet, the undercurrent of hostility in Larkspur's tone would have stopped her dead in her tracks, even without an understanding of the words. Unfortunately for both of them, the mottled cub was unable to pick up on it and proceeded to lean forward until she completely unbalanced herself and toppled forward.

The noise she made as her face hit the ground was something between an oomph and a yelp, and the impact made stars erupt in her blurry vision. She lay there a moment, face in the dirt and body a crumpled heap, only to begin a keening chorus that rapidly grew in intensity to outright shrieks. The impact was more shocking than painful, but that was enough to make the newborn's voice scream out an intolerable wail.