Bearclaw Valley I'm gonna send you back to schoolin',

The whole clan was out of the den- roused early enough so that their day could be full, an afternoon nap could be expected, and then after a few meals and a good bout of brawling and racing, they could go to sleep just to wake up at dusk and begin the process again. 

Four pups and a cub were busy work- but by the time summer warmth came, they would be more mobile, and would be given the freedom to roam within the valley; then, they wouldn’t have to supervise the kids like hawks because they wouldn’t be small enough to be carried off by one. 

A call came; the Bearclaws shared a glance. I’ll take thith one, She said. An’ I’ll take…thith one an’ thith one, She said, patting a paw on the two nearest children- Ahni and Alf. She kissed her husband, ruffled the fur of the three wolf pups he would mind, and she set off for the clearing with Ahniska and Auberon in tow. 

Cole’s tone had been serious, but she sought a moment of levity; once the man came into sight, she gave each child a prod. Get ‘im, She said, and sent the giggling children- both bear and wolf- off on a wobbly lope toward the Hedrogue while she followed behind at a relaxed walk.