Ouroboros Spine To hold you again

"Mother!" Angel shouted, picking up the pace to meet with the woman more quickly. She rushed into Raindrop's arms, tears welling again in her eyes as a tidal wave of love and relief broke over her. She had missed her mother and sisters all this time, but it was only now, holding and being held by her, that Angel realized just how much.

And maybe it was hearing about the loss of the moonwoman. A spiritual mother, even if not one that Angel herself was too familiar with. Angel was just grateful that she still had her own mother, and that Raindrop loved her so much and so well.

"I've missed you," she sniffled, a bright smile on her face. "And I have something for you! Wait — "

She had to double back a few yards, to where she'd dropped the bundle of treasures. And then it took some sifting around before she found the beautiful abalone shell she'd brought home for her mother. It was large, larger than her paw, and the creamy silver sheen on the inside made rainbows when it caught the light.

"I met a boy who'd trained an otter to dive down and find things like this," she said, nudging it toward Raindrop's paws. "And I traded for this one to give to you."

Beneath her fur, Angel was blushing. She'd traded a kiss — and not just any kiss, but her first one. It had been a wholly pleasant experience, but it was still too strange and silly to think of talking about, now.