Lessons with Stepdad

While she sat there lost in her sulking with a grumpy expression painted on her face, the bright golden fur of Naiche appeared through the high grasses, coming directly towards her. At first, Tira brightened up at the prospect of having company and someone to entertain her—but then she realized Naiche was probably only here to see Arcturus. Well, too bad so sad, he wasn't here, so he'd just have to be disappointed with her. Imagine her surprise when the much larger man came and lay down beside her, speaking to her and asking if she'd been left all alone. A soft harrumph left the little girl, and that probably would have sufficed for an answer, but she also wasn't going to pass on an opportunity to gripe about it too.

"Yes," she mumbled with hard emphasis, sulking even deeper as her head dropped and her shoulders slouched, her ears bobbing a little as she moved. "Mom says we can't leave the den on our own, but she's taking a nap and Arc left with Ashur to go exploring without me. So now I'm stuck here on my own" She grumped a little more, flopping down on her belly next to Naiche. She glanced over at the gold-furred man and gave him an inquisitive head tilt. "How come you aren't busy right now? All the adults always seem busy," she probed. Everyone in the Armada was always doing something that didn't involve her or her brother, but she was fine not including him today. He'd taken off on his own so rudely anyway.

"Satira Fatalis"