Swiftcurrent Creek sporks

The pups were growing faster than Bazi could have imagined. The den was starting to feel a little cramped with so many bodies vying for space - four of them unpredictably gassy and prone to escape attempts.

The children's adopted aunt had already missed The Opening of the Eyes. All four of them now stared at the world with pairs of beautiful baby blues that would soon fade into their adult colours; Bazi had bets on Kiv inheriting his mother's golden stare, but she would be wrong.

Today, she was in charge of him. One-on-one time was difficult to come by, and when the larger three began to doze against their mother's belly, Bazi saw her chance.

Paarthurnax had indicated that the pups might be ready to move on from boob, and this was a milestone that Bazi could control. She had already prepared - more than her fair share of meat sat uncomfortably in her belly, carefully chewed and swallowed not long before. "Psst, Kiv!" she called, shuffling on her belly to a clean spot of floor within the den. "Come here!" With a few heaves and a strangled gagging sound, Bazi puked up a pile of warm, lumpy grossness dinner for the pup's enjoyment. The smell of it rose slowly towards the ceiling.

@Relonikiv