Ankyra Sound i keep on dancing through the quicksand

Sobeille didn’t rush to reassure her, which caused another wave of trepidation to ripple through her. But the single word she did utter—coupled with the expression on her face—settled Tiuttuk’s sudden bout of self-consciousness some. She hadn’t worn out her welcome then. Maybe she would someday, though she silently, firmly told herself it wasn’t worth thinking about right now. It probably was worth pondering whether she could step up in the cousin’s stead and help Sobeille stake a claim, though she put that out of her mind for now too.

I’ll try hunting again once the mist clears up a little, Pie said after a few beats of companionable silence, broken by the slight stirrings and whimperings of the whelps. She peered askance at the grotto’s mouth, then returned her full attention to its inhabitants as she continued, In the meantime, let’s figure out what to call these little crustoceans.

Her yellow eyes flicked to Sobeille’s for a moment as if to ask whether she’d gotten that term right. Treepie then bent to snuffle at the pups, restraining herself from fawning over them as effusively as she wanted but unable to hide her utmost affection for Sobeille’s tiny trio.

I figured it makes sense to fade here, mebbe? :)