Sun Mote Copse everybody's waiting—everybody's watching

She saw the way Otter’s eyes crossed and moved her paw a little further away, in the hope it would help her focus. Perhaps it was still a bit much for her, as she closed her eyes and began rubbing at them a moment later.

Meerkat set down the little strip of fur and nosed gently at her daughter’s forehead. She smoothed her tongue over those closed eyelids, soft as velvet. She moved on to the rest of the child’s face, her ministrations borne of affection, though she would happily give Otter a proper bath.

For the first time in her life, she found herself wondering: did it hurt when their eyes first opened? If not painful, was it at least overstimulating? Meerkat frowned and pressed a tender kiss to the baby’s temple.