Redhawk Caldera Beneath the black sea

Raven slept like the dead, sprawled on her right side with her cheek smashed to the den floor. Drool dribbled from her partially opened mouth as her flank billowed with slow, deep breaths. She remained oblivious to the puppy squirming on top of her, jerking awake only when he slid down her rib cage and only because it tickled terribly.

"What is—?" she blurted nonensically, sitting up suddenly and blinking. Her dopey yellow eyes scanned the den and she noticed nothing amiss. Licking her lips, Raven slowly counted each of the pups. One, two, three, four, five... For good measure, she did it twice. With a final nip to her still tingling flank, she then slumped back to the floor.