Noctisardor Bypass And the thunder rolls

Most of her focus remained on Kaertok. She wasn't eager to take orders, per se, but she was on alert for them and prepared to obey. When he stopped and instructed the two small girls to lead him home, Grub quietly thrilled at the challenge. Her eyes skirted over to Beetle. She bumped her sister's snout with her own, then with a wave of her tail, spun and dropped her muzzle toward the wet earth.

The scents were amplified by the rain, so it was easy enough. Grub kept her head lowered even as she slowly wended back in the direction they had come. Several times, she paused to double check the trail or investigate a paw print. Her confidence grew with every step, her heart doing a funny little leap when she squinted through the rainfall and spotted the den up ahead.

It fell a moment later, when she realized the adventure was over. Just as she didn't seek out commands, she didn't particularly thirst for praise. But she couldn't help but look to Kaertok, eyes lingering on his grizzled chin, bright in the gloom at his tacit approval.

Sep 28: I figured I'd conclude this one for us.