honored memory

Oh, her heart melted every time they looked at her. How could it not? Poem had brought such perfect little children into the world. Theory's thoughts darkened briefly as she thought of the siblings she'd lost - Noir in particular. But they had known it even then, hadn't they? He'd been rotten from the beginning. Cruel. Spiteful in a way a child shouldn't be. Sometimes things weren't so clear cut; at least with him they had a warning. Could it happen again? Surely not. These puppies were truly and completely surrounded by love and support, as if they had been born into a soft, safe cocoon. She couldn't account for the chaos Tana had brought into their lives. Maybe that instability had contributed more than she'd credited it.

Shaking grim thoughts of the past, Theory returned Shae's beaming grin and settled down beside her, shoulder-to-shoulder. She tried to commit this moment to memory. Shae would never be this small again. "I like the water well enough, but I prefer the ocean," she grinned. "I used to play here when I was little just like you - but you have to be careful, especially in the winter and the spring." Strange. These puppies had never known spring. Not yet, at least.