Ravensblood Forest chariots of the gods

Osprey's eyes followed the she-wolf as she loped away and disappeared, then flicked to the puppy and then up to the scarred male's chiseled face. She stared for so long, her head began to wobble again. Right then, his mate reappeared and offered Junior some poppy seeds. The pup sniffed at them and then lapped them into her mouth. Aunt Willow had given her a dose of medicine once or twice and although it tended to taste bad, it always seemed to work.

The motherly wolf introduced herself as Thistle Cloud, then motioned to the pup and the larger male, referring to them as Tveir and Ragnar, respectively. "I'm Junior!" she replied, forgetting that she'd already given them her name. She grinned at the pup in particular, his blue eyes enchanting her nearly as much as his father's.

The two adults talked among themselves for a moment, during which Osprey Jr. gathered her strength and shuffled nearer to the other whelp. "Hi," she said sotto voce, unknowingly mimicking Ragnar. She reached out a black paw to tap Tveir in the chest and perhaps get him to play, even though her head was still pounding something fierce. Nothing could keep Osprey Jr., Warrior-in-training, down for long!

But Ragnar spoke, leaving her foreleg dangling in midair as she looked up at him. "Food!" she replied enthusiastically and unhelpfully.