One big, happy family

Avantika followed a bit behind her siblings, needing time to think on her way. She was happy for Tamsyn, of course. Her mother deserved to find new love and have whatever life she wanted, and it was nothing short of a beautiful miracle that she'd even been able to have this litter. But she couldn't help but feel a little hurt, and she wasn't quite sure why. Maybe it was just that she was now living away from the castle. The three kids didn't have the last name Carpathius. But they were her baby siblings, whether half or full-blooded. Technically, blood had nothing to do with it at all. She tried to push away the doubts and think instead on what it would be like to have little siblings. Would any of them be fighters? Maybe she could teach them! If anything, it would be good practice for whenever she and Audra had their own children.

She loped faster, and arrived in a hurry, not long behind Artorias. She took a deep breath and softly padded to the den. They were so incredibly small. Avantika was a pretty average sized wolf, if a bit tall, and even she could never imagine being that tiny. She could crush them with one paw! Her stomach set, and she felt suddenly grim. Even a little fox could kill one of the puppies. Anything could. Looking at them, she wondered how any wolf ever made it to adulthood. They needed such care, or at least, they ought to have it -- she'd turned out mostly alright despite her early childhood's challenges -- and they looked as if they'd kick the bucket at the slightest pinch.

"Speech"