Kintla Flatlands by the shadow of the night

Osprey was nearly three months old now and, presently, she teetered on the cusp of a rapid growth spurt. For now, she still wore her puppy fat and over-sized paws but it was only a matter of weeks before she grew into her figure. A month from now, she would hardly be distinguishable from yearlings and smaller adults. Of course, she knew nothing about any of this, though her physique was already showing a suggestion of what was to come in her tapering muzzle and long, slender legs.

These carried her over the plateau at a swift trot. Junior ignored the oncoming dark, as the difference between day and night didn't seem all that important. She could still explore, hunt and patrol at night. Tonight in particular, she proved she could also track effectively despite the waning light. Using her nose and ears, she followed the scent of the pack's Alpha female, tracing it all the way to the plateau's edge and into the neutral territory just beyond it.

She found not only Aunt Willow but a stranger too. Boldly, she approached them. She didn't fear rebuke, as she was certain she was old enough now to explore on her own, even alone and after dark (her parents would perhaps disagree). "Aunt Willow!" young Osprey exclaimed loudly. "What'rrre you doin'?" she queried, her enunciation a bit strange as she'd only just started being able to wrap her tongue around the letter R. It made her feel even more like a big girl.