the usefulness of this uselessness

The words falling from her mother's mouth force her ears to lay flat against her head. Brows furrow slightly as she continues to nose around at the items in front of her. She can feel the softness of feathers, the roundness of beads, those are items she can identify. As she continues to nose around, Pythia even feels the reed baskets with their ends poking out in different directions and the rough edges of sea shells and the pliable soft branches that feel almost squishy between her lips.

What was her mother expecting her to do with any of this? Pretty things and useless baubles literally meant nothing to her. Even a bowl... How was she supposed to weave a basket if she had no idea what it looked like? A grumble forces itself up her throat as she scoots backward and up into a sitting position. Perhaps if she figured out how to put some of the beads and shells on the cording.

Disgruntled, but not deterred, Pythia reaches back out with her paws. They tap at the array of items until she lands on a length of cording. Once its in her grasp, she quietly asks her mother for help with tying a knot in one end. To her surprise and with much clumsy movements, Modesty helps Pythia figure it out by using her teeth and toes to feel the cording. After a moment or so, she has a knot! Now it was time to find some items that could be threaded onto the cord...

"speech"