Swiftcurrent Creek she's walking on fire

Danica appraised the pup, ensuring all the ants were gone. As far as she could tell they were. Spitting out the last few, she wrinkled her brow briefly with distaste. Insects could be eaten at times when vitamins were needed and food was scarce, but they tasted bloody awful. Not to mention a few of the little buggers had somehow managed to sting her tongue. Simply uncomfortable, she imagined the pup had it much worse and sympathized. She had gotten into her share of similar situations when she was small and had summarily been bailed out by an elder or parent. The pup should enjoy that while it lasted. There would come a time, whether sooner or later, when she would stand alone, and that illusion of childhood would be shattered forever.

Lowering her head to her paws, she gazed at the pup, smiling and nodding as thanks were given. "Those little crawly things? They are called bugs. There are lots of kinds, some flying, some crawling, and some of them can be mean. It's best to stay away from them until you figure out for sure if they are the mean sort or the nice sort." It could have been worse... The anthill could have been a wasp nest. Hopefully the pup would exercise more caution in the future. "Got it, squirt?" Her smile broadened at Maera somewhat playfully.