Arrow Lake melusine

A pile of fat puppies was wedged between her two front legs, spilling out over both snowy limbs as the four of them slept. Her head was settled on the ground near them, ears twitching at the slightest sound from outside. Packmates often deposited kills near the den opening, and so she was never too concerned to hear approaching footsteps, especially since everyone seemed to respect her privacy. The general's scent wafted inside the den like it did often throughout the day, but her head raised when she heard him stop at the entrance and call her name. Her eyes found his, and she held his gaze for a few silent seconds before her soft chuff invited him inside. She was curious what brought him here before nightfall, and since feeding four very hungry mouths required a lot from her, the smell of food caught her interest as well. Not that she ever minded his company; she liked the evenings they shared as parents, and although she loved being a mother and the precious time she spent with the children, it was also nice to talk to someone who could talk back.