-Summer Sun- (Aspen Grove)

Astrae had her tail tucked with confusion between her legs, watching as Lakona sprinted away across the stream, and up over the ridge until she was out of sight. The black and white checkered youngster shuffled towards the approaching Waterlily, seeking the sitter's assurance with a quieted whine, "Why did she take it?" She looked back to Nanshe, then up at Lily, "Is it because we were fighting?"

Nanshe likewise had her tail tucked, but her ears were planed out at the sides in irritation, and a harsh frown muddled the otherwise confused look that graced her stormy-gray face. Still, even the spicy, heat-wearied and food-starved Nanshe slunk towards Waterlily for safety after the startling attack. She didn't press herself up against Lily's forelegs as Astrae did, but she did sit down near her, shoulders hunched and head low as she watched Agarian briefly give chase to his sister, "Lakona is just a bug, butt-headed meanie." When he'd stopped short and returned, a still-glowering Nanshe huffed back, "No, I'm still hungry!"

With both adolescent under her proverbial wing, Waterlily went about giving them each a few consoling licks, "Kona is hungry, like the rest of us. Sometimes being hungry can make us grumpy and make bad decisions." She answered patiently, "It was not nice of her to take your food, but we'll find you more."

The end of Firelight's tail curled slightly, reflecting her own quiet irritation with her sister's antics. She had half a mind to stalk her down and offer a lecture, but thought better of it and turned to the pups, "Why don't we go scavenging? There's a few places I haven't checked yet, we might be able to come across some grub for ourselves while the others hunt."