Phoenix Maplewood smile without a reason why

This answer was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Alya certainly didn't want to be blamed for his fatigue. On the other, it bothered her that Aditya had things that had nothing at all to do with her. Her next several bites of rabbit were even more fussy and exacting, and then she was disgusted with herself for displaying this fit of pique in the first place. What did it matter if Aditya had other business? Just because Alya was stuck in one place, staring at the canopy all day?

(How did these wolves live get by being unable to look up at the stars at night?)

"We're doing well," she replied, and her heart was such that she no longer considered those that were dead, missing, or turncoats. Her family, the core of it, was doing fine. "My youngest siblings are all growing well. A relief, because the last litter was a disaster. Still is, sometimes." To say nothing of the Yams. Alya still had hope for them. "My mother and father are healthy. And my twins..." She shot him a sly look, aware that he still thought there was only one of her. "... are being courted by more men than I can keep track of."

Which was not exactly an exaggeration.

"Tell me about your family," she said, finishing off the last bite of rabbit and moving at once to clean up her paws and face. "Who else is in this pack?"