Jade Fern Grove gold in your eyes, dancing like fire

it was a day of quiet rest and repose, nothing out of the ordinary. Tahani had been napping when Currituck took off, and when she woke, she assumed the quartet of pups were all with her sister, sleeping soundly after another hard day of traveling. but when Shivali burst from the den, and inquired as to Currituck's whereabouts, her heart pounded in fear.

wordlessly, she circled the clearing, falling behind her brother and sister as they followed the trail, hoping that the brown pup was curled up here somewhere. when she was nowhere to be found, Tahani issued a swift command to her younger siblings to watch the remaining pups, then sailed after Shiv and Sia, coming to a halt just as they'd confronted the unfamiliar girl.

a growl bubbled in her throat as she saw Currituck so close to the stranger, and she bared her teeth without thinking. "who are you?" she snarled, forgetting in her angst that she spoke in the northern tongue. she flattened herself down, eyes softening as she stared at little Tatik. "come, child," she cooed, hoping to bring the child to her side without incident. "it is all right. come to me."

Tahani was racked with guilt. how could she have let the brown babe out of her sight?