Her father had really beaten into the pup’s head that she needed to be on her best behaviour while their visitors were here. Normally she wouldn’t care much about that, but it had also been made clear that if she misbehaved that she would not get to go up the mountain. It was really important to her that she didn’t get left behind while Isla went, that was the story of her life. So she would be the best host and then she would get to go and everything would be perfect.

Still, it was hard to be on her best behaviour. She wanted to be out sneaking around and enjoying her freedom while her dad was out but for once she was afraid of getting caught. Instead she sat grumpily in the snow outside of the den, tail twitching behind her as she waited for the minutes to tick past. Sephrina let out a sigh and rolled her eyes before flopping her head dramatically down onto her paws. Being well behaved was boring and she hated it. Maybe her sister was up, or one of the new kids.

The Valle girl was often seen as difficult by the adults, and had a wicked streak of jealousy that often came across in anger. But, she still remembered how nice it was to have a friend in Llinea that was just hers, and so when one of the Cove pups approached her she made sure to smile nicely. Plus having friends on the inside could pay her well when she’s on her exchange up on the mountain.

Turning to look over her shoulder at the girl approaching, clearly her age and around her size, but with tawny fur. Sephrina’s vision had deteriorated to the point that from this distance she couldn’t see Magg’s facial scars. Dark tail waved through the snow a few times in greeting as she called back, ”Hi! You’re up late, or early I guess.” Her voice was loud enough that the other girl could hear her but hopefully not too loud to wake anyone else up.

The last thing she wanted was for an adult to come and chaperone them. Maybe this other girl would be open for an adventure? Getting to her paws she gestured with her muzzle, ”Come on, we don’t want to wake anyone else up.” She padded a few steps away, glancing backwards to make sure the other child - whose name she had forgotten from the introductions - was following behind.

The other girl followed closely behind the Valle, pleasing Sephrina greatly and her dark tail swooped behind her as they walked. She waited until they were farther away from the den before speaking again, ”I’m Sephrina.” Hoping the other child would offer her name again. So many of them had shown up to visit them that she couldn’t remember who was who. It didn’t help that so many of them had names that were so close together.

She had an idea of what they could do. She would show her new friend her secret collection, something she had not even shown her sister, so far it had just been for her. One day a few weeks ago @”Isla” had shown up with a huge bone that she had found, and of course jealousy had swept through the girl and she had started collecting bones of her own. None of them were as big as the bear one her sister had gotten, but she definitely had more.

Leading Magg towards one of the spots that Heartleaf Creek wound into the territory where an empress tree had half fallen in a tornado a year or so before. Under the roots of this slowly dying tree was where her treasures had been hidden. Tiny delicate little fish bones, larger femurs from rabbits, and half of the skull from a squirrel. Proudly standing next to her secret cache she declared, ”I’ve been collecting them for weeks.” She would hopefully be able to get more once she wasn’t grounded.

Magg was appropriately interested in Sephrina’s little hoard of bones, and the child’s tail began to wag with enthusiasm. Had she hunted them? No. That was a skill that was difficult for her to do and the adults tended to allow her to half heartedly chase after the prey but she was never allowed to be part of the take down. Sure, now and then she was able to catch a lame rabbit, or an elderly fish, but no, hunting was not her strong suit.

”Yep!”

Magg didn’t need to know that.

But, she needed to really sell the lie, ”And I’ve caught some bigger things, but I didn’t think I could hide the bones as well.” The jealousy of Isla’s bear bone ran deep, but Magg had no idea her sister had found something so cool, or that Sephrina wasn’t allowed to do things. Noticing the lingering on the fish she declared, ”That one is a fish I caught from the creek.” Then she brightened, ”I bet you guys get some cool fish on the mountain.” Maybe even bigger than the fish they had down here.

This time it was the Valle child’s turn to be impressed when her new friend stated that the fish on the mountain had fangs. Grey mouth popped open into a little o of surprise, and admiration as Magg explained that the aquatic life actually fought back way up there. Sitting her rump down hard into the snowy ground Sephrina couldn’t help but wonder how they might catch anything at all up there.

Her voice was full of admiration, not a tone she used often, when she spoke, ”So they must be like….really dangerous to catch then.” She trailed off at the thought of it before pressing, ”Do you have to fight them in the water? Have you caught any by yourself?” Maybe if this was a skill she could somehow master before coming back she could rub it in her siblings’ faces how much better at it she was than them. That would show Isla and her stupid bear bone. Who cares about a bone you found if you could fight off giant fanged fish and bring them back for dinner? That was way cooler.