Wear It Like Armor

Her father's vow of love and reassurance that he wasn't going to leave her so long as he had any say in the matter helped ease Satira's uncertainties and worries more than anything else. Even if she was too young to understand his surreptitious meanings behind the way he'd phrased it, what mattered was that he was here and he wasn't leaving her. Satira sniffled back the last remnants of tears from her eyes, cuddling into his tighter embrace all the more eagerly. She loved her father so much, just as she loved her mother with all her heart. Her family was the most important thing in her world. To know that there might be a possibility of losing any of them, or having her family fragment, it twisted Tira up inside.

Her darkened thoughts were swept away when Mojito laughed, the sound bringing another smile to Satira's lips. He began to explain to her what a dog was—a smaller canine with many more varieties to them than wolves had. They could have many different traits that made them unique. Her and her sire were part border collie. Border collie. Satira rolled the name around in her head, adjusting her mind to the concept that she was more than just a wolf. They were a proud breed that worked herding livestock. A roguish grin split the pup's face from ear to ear when Mojito winked and gave her permission to herd Hoa if the urge ever arose. She glanced over at the woolly sheep, feeling no instinctive drive to begin chasing him—not yet, at least, but she still had some growing up to do!

Satira leaned happily into Mojito's kiss right between her floppy ears. Surrounded by her father's protection and warmth, Satira felt nigh on invincible, as if nothing could ever harm her so long as she had her parents. "Thanks, Dad—for everything," she spoke, her voice a soft lilt. Tiny fawn-colored face nuzzled into Mojito's fluffy chest. She was already feeling much better than she had been. "I'm glad there's nothing wrong with us. I really like our ears and fur." As if emphasizing a point, Satira ran a paw down her growing fur, trying to smooth out the fluffy silkiness that would no doubt evolve into a stunning longer coat once it grew out of its fluffy puppy phase.

"Satira"