Bearclaw Valley i speak for the trees

Periwinkle, meanwhile, had found a toy to chew on- something that had likely been a lovely gift at one point, but by now it was impossible to tell what it could have been. Had it had fur? It had either been gummed off the limb entirely, or had become so sticky with spittle and dirt that it would never look like fur again. It could have been a branch- but there was something suspicious about its texture that made it not quite wooden. 

But it was loved- it was very well loved. 

Periwinkle had begun to learn how to ‘hold’ something so that she could chew away on it. One paw pinned one end, the other paw supported it, and she could chew on the end that stuck up. The only problem was her own lack of coordination and she’d forget, at times, to keep pressing the one end into the ground. The…toy, thing, would roll away, only to provoke a growl from the little girl who would then rise, teetering, and clumsily pounce it again. 

Her brother’s voice didn’t distract her- until she heard his battle cry. She looked up then, tilting her head to the side, and squinted. Pawk? 

And caught sight of the stranger, in the distance. 

A wolf who was neither Tvar nor Towhee Jr, nor those who had come to visit regularly. She didn’t know him- and she didn’t trust him. 

Wild-eyed she stared at the stranger for a moment, before she grabbed the toy with her foot and drew it closer to herself, crouching so she could be balanced. Pawwwwk! She whined quietly, to catch his attention.