Noctisardor Bypass nutria

the smile, returned; "in that case i'll try and get away more." heda appreciated the encouragement, even if she didn't think she needed to be away from them. if anything, she had formed a near-need to let their necessities become the sum of her existence, falling into the ceaseless hours with a vigor she had for nothing else.
she watched fiona fondly for a moment, then bent to join her, and soon all the puppies were inching their way toward her available belly, freshly scrubbed and none too happy about the entire thing.
"thank you, by the way. for trying to take care of me in the hollow."