Moonspear ^_______________________^

Treepie refused to pay a visit to the caldera, though not out of spite. No, she missed her taataa and wished to see his face. She simply couldn’t leave Moonspear right now. They were still few, with young ones to tend, and it was possible Chaudry might return despite Alaric’s warning. She would not go on any forays and leave the village and its inhabitants vulnerable.

Presently, she shuffled along the base of the mountain, reinforcing the borders. Every so often, she paused to enjoy the splendors of spring. It was the season of blooming and new life. They didn’t anticipate any more puppies born here, though Tiuttuk wondered if she might become an anaa this time next year.

She supposed that would require a suitable male, assuming she was physically capable of bearing offspring. There was only Glaukos, though hopefully that might change in the intervening year. His strength impressed her, though she would not soon forget that he had once pursued—and quite possibly laid with—her own mother.

Her nose wrinkled and Treepie let out a light laugh as she slowed to a stop. She watched honeybees bumble and drift around a nearby patch of clovers. Her head tilted when two of them bumped into one another and proceeded to fight, their angry buzzing making her ears twitch.