Northstar Vale If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself.

Still-sealed eyes, yes, but her ears were slowly developing—and all would rue the day Lilitu would be able to respond. She roused to the murmur of voices, the change in her mother's posture and demeanor that signified something was different. The girl lifted her head with a small squeak, coming sleepily out of a dream.

There was a presence nearby, and speech from its general direction. A visitor! She only faintly understood the concept of other wolves beyond her numbers One and Two, but she knew they existed. And this was definitely not either her mother nor her sister, for they were both curled up beside her.

Lilitu began to shimmy toward the den-guest, only stopping when she clunked somewhat painfully into one of their large paws and/or sturdy forelegs. (Neonate escapees are easy to catch.)