Swiftcurrent Creek unique understandings

He would not find his sea legs until week three, possibly even four, yet this did not mean that Relonikiv didn't move around a lot. He bustled around the den at a slow, steady crawl, familiarizing himself with his small world. He wouldn't know their names for a while but he could make basic distinctions between his mother, his Aunt Bazi, his brothers and his sister. He knew when an unfamiliar face popped into the den, though they came and went fairly often and he never quite remembered any one of those.

Today's guest lingered just outside the door, looking uncertain. From his position beneath Paarthurnax's tail—it draped over his small body, keeping it warm—the runt of the litter peered upward, grinned and made a sound like, Arf! He then began squirming forward to greet this latest in the rotation of faces. Julius beat him to the punch, though Relonikiv didn't mind. Already, he was assuming his place at the bottom of the pile and the last in the line, so he was content with his lot.

Once within a few feet of the doorway, Relonikiv stopped and smiled up at their guest for a second before he began sneezing. It wasn't just once, twice or even three times... they just kept coming and coming! Although slightly bewildering, they also tickled, so the pup somehow managed to smile through them, his blue eyes watering and his nose running everywhere.