Nova Peak black horse and the cherry tree

Ruckus came trundling over to her, affording Raider a view of his partially open eyes. Her mouth fell open before curling into a smile. She wondered just how much he could make out at this point and decided, Nothing much.

C’mere, lil’ boy, she crooned, stretching out a foreleg to try and pull him to her.

Even as the words left her mouth, thunder growled distantly outside. Raider’s ears flicked, though her attention remained on her son. That said, an idea struck her like—well, like lightning, which cast the den’s interior into sharp relief for a split second.

What if Ruckus wasn’t a boy? Just because he’d been born with male parts didn’t mean anything. Raider would know that better than anyone, not that she publicized her internal monologues on gender identity. She really wondered, though, and made an abrupt decision.

You can tell me when you’re older. For now, c’mere, lil’ one, Raider murmured, pressing her nose to the child’s temple.