Verdigris Ravine I feel it fade from the inside

He blinked against the intense light of their home, the world taking a few moments to come into focus. As soon as his eyes adjusted and he got his first glimpse of his desert homeland, his attention was stolen by the panicked yip of Kusuma.

At first, the boy's large ears perked in delight at seeing his mother – oh how her dark fur shined in the sunlight! – however he quickly mirrored her anxiety as she rushed over to him, abandoning the meal she had caught for them.

"Mama," he squeaked quietly in response, crouching instinctively as she began to zealously look him over. His ears fell back apologetically, not yet having the words to apologise verbally, though he recognised his own name and her alarm told him that what he had done was wrong.

Instead the boy responded by giving a few small licks to her muzzle and tucking himself beneath her legs with a sorrowful whine.