The young girl had quickly started to grow from the helpless infant who was desperate for her mother’s milk to a feisty young girl who could run around and start to cause trouble. Sor rose slowly, being careful not to wake her mother as she moved to sneak out of the den. Her eyes were filled with a certain determination as she put a grin on her face. No one would be able to stop her from venturing as far as the edge of the den! The girl had never dared to step onto the cold and stiff ground that was beyond the birthing den though she did look out at it often. She blinked as she looked back. She was pretty sure her dad was out and about or that could be him sleeping next to her mother. Elli was fast asleep which gave Sorya the opportunity to poke her head out. SNAP. She winced as the small twig broke underneath her paw.

She turned, keeping her eyes focused on the still blurry form of her mother and sisters. She slowly started to head back into the den before she settled down a bit away from the loving embrace of her mother. She curled up, her head on her paws as she stared at her mother. Hopefully she would not wake her. She hoped that she would not wake her sisters either or even worse (or better) her father. She smiled at them all.

A movement at her stomach caused Elli to slowly open one eye. They never let her get rest, did they? She took a deep breath as she watched little Sor step closer to the edge of the small birthing den. Soon she might let them out into the cold outside but today was not that day. She was about to call her youngest daughter back when she heard the snapping of a twig. She fought back a soft chuckle as the child looked back at her before running back into the safety of the den. Her children were already beginning to express themselves and their personalities to her. Sor was quite the adventurer.

Sorya curled up a bit away from them which caused Elli to raise her head and open both eyes. “Is everything alright, Sorya?” She called out the words softly to keep the others from waking in the process. “Why not come over here?” The soft coo and mother’s instinct kicked in as she yearned to have all of her children safely at her stomach.

She had almost gotten away with it! Her mother’s soft voice made her raise her head. She had woken her mother which had made her frown quite a bit. “Yea momma, I’m fine. I just didn’t want to wake you and I figuhed that if I wen to there I woulda woken you.” The words were slightly blurred as she moved closer to her mother. She had a bright look to her but she was nervous. She curled up again next to her sisters and she looked at her momma. “Momma, wen do we get to go outside?” She asked the words softly, hoping that the answer was soon. She wouldn’t go outside without the permission of her momma but her curiosity was starting to break through this idea of a rule.

Elli would let out the light chuckle as her daughter spoke about not wanting to wake her. “I wasn’t sleeping.” She explained with a simple coo as her youngest settled in near her stomach. Her eyes focused on her one daughter as the girl asked her when they would be allowed to travel outside for the first time in their lives. “Soon my little dove, but for now, try to sleep. Perhaps we can go when we are all awake and together.” The words were light off of her lips as she promised her daughter that they would not remain in the cave forever. They all reminded her so much of Suka in both looks and sometimes even behaviors.

Sleep my little darlings, precious little things. One day when you are big and strong, you will be strong queens. The words were in her mind as she hummed the tune to get her daughter to rest with the other two. The smile planted on her face as she put her head down, her eyes closing before she peacefully drifted off to sleep. Hopefully she could get an hour or two before another one woke and tried to sneak out if they tried to.

Sorya was about to speak when her mother had informed her that soon they would be venturing out when her mother went and appeared to be preparing herself for sleep. Sorya sighed, putting her head down so she had a nice view out of the den. She wasn’t tired! She pouted inside, keeping her eyes open just long enough to see a frog jump around just outside the den before she gave into the tired feeling she had long since ignored. She opened her eyes again, accidentally kicking her mother in the stomach as she scurried to get a look at the frog that was leaping about. What was the stranger creature and would it hurt her?

A kick stirred her from her sleep as she came back into reality to find Sorya running off yet again. "What is it sweetheart?" She asked with a yawn as she finally rose to her paws. She padded over, noting the fact that Sorya had been startled or intrigued by something to make her rise again. She walked over to see a frog. "That is a frog, Sorya. It hops around all day and loves the water. It also probably has a family of it's own." She said everything this a smile as she nudged the creature with her nose. It jumped up and landed on her. She let out a soft chuckle as she lowered her nose to the ground before it disappeared from sight.

Her mother had risen right beside her, asking what it was. Sorya pointed with her front left paw at the mysterious green croaking creature that was sitting on the floor and her mom began to tell her what it was. It was called a frog and it was interesting. It hopped on top of her mother's nose and she backed up.  "Momma, it's attacking you!" The girl exclaimed as Elli lowered her nose again and released it. The dark colored girl buried her face in her momma's side. "Good thing it didn't eat you!" The little, naive pup sighed with relief as she looked up at her mother.

She looked over at the rest of the den, keeping an eye on the frog as it hopped towards her sisters before it ended up disappearing into the dangerous but great outdoors. She smiled before walking back over to her siblings for a rest. She knew that going outside would have to wait until they were all up.