Blackfeather Woods Praying to the label itself

lo and behold she finds herself smiling- properly smiling, at the enthusiasm rolling forth from the little body beside her. she can remember her reaction on the day he'd been born, could recall the agony searing though her gut as she felt unable to come too close to the birthing den for fear she might collapse in on herself. but that'd been different, they were so much older now and therefore she could be around them with a lot more ease. and it wasn't like it was anything to do with them personally, she'd felt the slightest hints of it when straying too near to cassiopeia's den as well and had just plain avoided parvati's. she couldn't take it, the memories- the pain. the sight of newborns just brought it all crashing down on her again as if she were reliving the bloody thing. 

anyway, focus, they were older now so besides her lack of experience around children things were fine. she got it too,  the fondness. never had she seen a being so full of energy- naive yet to the cruelties of the world. still a pure being of happiness and hope. there was something special about that, they were the future after all. she nods, smile still lingering at his statement. "i'm sure you do" she simply murmurs, amused. he bounces ahead, and bertók floats alongside her as she walks behind. the raven observes the pup with quite the look of distaste and she chuckles softly, swiping affectionately at the bird in an effort to chide him. 

when the rusty boy starts making an effort to play- she shakes her head but not unkindly. "you're being a guardian today, remember? first thing and definitely the most important is that you've always got to be alert. it could save your life, and your family's. remember you're responsible for everyone's safety. so if you're racing around you could miss something. c'mon, just keep your ears perked and an eye out for anything strange and lemme know if you see anything" she smiles and nudges him encouragingly before continuing on. 

the trees begin to thin as they get closer the their home's edge, the light brightening. she looks down to him now, curious as to what he'd make of the open world that begins after the dark forest. strange to think he's never experienced brightness like this before, having grown up in the wood's protective gloom. "now make sure you stick close" she murmurs as they take the last few steps until they stand right at the treeline, she'd decided to bring him to the eastern side that looks out over the flatlands to the distant otter creek and then the even further but noticeable mountains. it was probably the most exciting view from the woods with the looming albeit magnificant points looking over everything. she smiles down at him, letting him take it all in. "there you go, the world's big huh.  and that's only a tiny bit of it" inhaling deeply, she decides to wait and let him look at it all for a few minutes before getting down to business.