Broken Antler Fen best fake smile

eljay spoke warmly of his children. "i looking forward to it," she said, and meant it. being auntie to the first brood had not dissuaded teya; quite the contrary. she enjoyed spending time with ibis' brood, and moreover, enjoyed leaving them with their mother when they all had finished.
"how maia?" she asked next. without pups of her own, teya would never know what went on within the den. she asked because she had not seen maia in some time, and while instinct told her this was natural, her own misgivings kept the girl worried.