Sun Mote Copse We're only hearts and bones and blood

Wildfire had just returned from a patrol about fifteen minutes prior when she sensed Kiwi nearby. She looked up from where the tykes were cavorting in the little dooryard outside the blasted tree den, tipping her smudged snoot into the wind to catch the yearling's scent. Her lips curled into a smile when she realized the Regent came bearing gifts.

Woofing to encourage Kiwi to come closer, the Sovereign bent down to bump Elfie and Weejay. "Can you say 'hi' to your older sister?" she coaxed. They were just about at the stage where their adorable babbling would pave the way to first words and, before she knew it, they would be talking in complete sentences. As always, the seasoned mother told herself to savor each of these milestones. They would grow up fast and she officially had more litters behind her than ahead of her these days.