Moonspear uuliutik ◯

I welcome anything you want to teach me, Treepie said, dipping her head humbly to the matriarch as their paws brushed.

She didn’t fancy herself a healer, though it didn’t seem like the right time to mention that. Pie would be happy to learn the basics, at the very least. She felt much more passionate about storytelling and thrilled at the thought of learning the family’s lore to pass on to others, particularly younger generations.

It means so much that you believe in me, grandmother. I just think I have a long way to go before I can consider myself an eligible Alpha, she tried to explain. Perhaps next spring, I’ll be ready.

Her thoughts cast ahead. Next spring, she would turn two and experience her first heat, if she was fortunate. Treepie worried about her anatomy, yet she held out hope that she would be able to find a suitable sire and realize her greatest dream of all: becoming an anaa.

Tiuttuk shifted on her feet and motioned for Kukutux to make herself at home, then settled down herself. Still she marveled at the pile of gifts filling her ulaq. She imagined there was a story behind each one.

I would be happy to sit here and talk with you however long you want to stay, she said, but I’d also love to hear any stories you want to share, about these or anything else.

She waved a paw over the objects lovingly spread on the floor, then lifted her yellow eyes to her grandmother’s face.