Blackfeather Woods I sing of arms and men

her mother sleeps, and Astraea has found her legs more quickly than anticipated. 

her existence is a curious one, her bloodline even more so. it is a muddled tapestry of vikings, sylphs, murders and witches, but to her, now, it is potential. she has the ability to become any one of those things, in the months and years that follow. but now, she is little more than a nameless girl who has wandered over the edge of her tiny world, finding herself in one larger than anticipated, with muted lights and colours that dance in her newly-opened gaze. it is early dawn, and the glen is quiet, save for the rush of the waterfall that feeds into the center pool. she wavers only a moment at the entrance before she wobbles further from the den, tail stiff and high, milky blue gaze seeking for any trace of movement to latch onto. 

She still was looking after her children, now wilting out in the elements. Maegi understood that these were special boys. They were not long for this world—Peryite had told her so, in dreams. They would live only for a short time and then return to the earth; they belonged there, Peryite said, not here. Mostly, she had come to accept it—

But in her weaker moments, she cried until she had no more tears left to spare. Why bless her with children, only to snatch them away?

Her attention was caught, however, by the small gray form toddling nearby, near the mouth of Cass's whelping den. Maegi blinked, staring at the girl, motionless. Mulling actions and reactions silently in her head. Then, without another thought, she rose to her paws and wobbled, too, even more unsteady than usual on her crippled paw. She wobbled and hobbled toward the pup, face serene. . .

(Serenity that might have something to do with the three or four poppy seeds she'd ingested, a short while ago.)

Hello, she said softly, sitting on her haunches a tail-length or two away from the girl. Exploring?

the strangers approach was not graceful, but that only allowed the pup to latch onto her with greater ease, watching impassively. it was only when she paused that the girl moved, toddling closer in a way that seemed similar to the woman's own teetering walk. she fell into an ungainly sitting position a tail's length from the stranger, peering owlishly at her. "ah?" she questioned, and for a moment seemed to be genuinely curious, as if her questioning sound demanded an answer. the moment passed, and she teetered forward, attempting to reach up and grab at Maegi's muzzle with her gummy jaws, babbling softly all the while.

Maegi grinned as the pup began to work at her muzzle with baby gums, repressing the urge to giggle (that tickled!). Her tail beat softly behind her on the ground, back and forth, in obvious joy. It was strange to be in this position. It seemed as if only yesterday that she was the pup playing with Cassiopeia here in the Glen. Now she played with the woman's child.

Strange, huh? she asked rhetorically, for she knew the sharp row of teeth on the left side of her face was permanently bared to the world. She wondered if the pup found it strange, scary, or merely a curiosity. One day you'll have teeth like mine. Sooner than you think.