The warmth and comfort of her mother was all the girl had ever known. Truthfully, it was all that she could ever want either. There was safety, and security, and love as her mother doted upon her. She was never wanting for attention, for food, for any kind of nourishment or sweet words to wind up coming her way even if she did not understand them. All that mattered was that she knew it was good. She knew it was meant to be positive. Truthfully, what more than that could really matter?

Bri-bee~ Her head turned slowly towards her mother, seeing the etches of light creeping towards the edge of the den with a frown, a hint of a whine as she refused to follow her for a moment. The light was different… and in some ways, that meant it was to be scary as well. She wasn’t sure how she’d like it, or if she should follow after the mother as the light outside of the den swallowed her up.

She had seen it consume the blob that was her father several times. The whine would be met with a stubborn planting of her butt in the back of the den, refusing to emerge as her ears pressed flat against her skull, a frown following it’s way onto her features all the same. No.

”Speech"

Once again her mother would coo, and she would find herself annoyed with the fact that she kept cooing and asking for attention. Her nose wrinkled as she shook her head once more in a stubborn pout. No, it was not something she wanted to do! And yet as the goofy grin found her mother’s features she found herself concerned. What if mother was in danger? She wasn’t sure why that was the thought that entered her head, but it was enough to make her whine.

She timidly moved in to look at whatever it was that was devouring her mother and obviously causing her some kind of harm. Otherwise why would mother ever make her do something outside of her comfort zone? No, that had to be the reason. She was stubbornly determined that it was.

The bright light that came from outside the den caused her eyes to squint as her nose wrinkled and she plopped her butt on the ground, tucking her head against her mother to avert from the disruptive and assaulting light that was filtering through the irises of her puppy eyes.

”Speech"

The stubbornness remained, unaware of her mother’s amusement which she no doubt would have found some disdain for if she ever found out, for she would be unable to tell the difference between with and at when it came to any form of perceived humiliation.

The comforting licks would only reinforce the behavior in her as she attempted to tuck even more, her limbs wrapping loosely around her mother’s leg in the hopes that soon this ‘fun’ would be over and she could return to the den. Even as her mother initiated play, she would find herself stubbornly refusing to participate.

She didn’t understand why her mother kept pushing her for this! Her nose would wrinkle again as she let out a whine and finally managed to speak. “Icky!” It was not her idea of a good time, not in the slightest.

”Speech"

Relief flooded through her as she was guided back inside, safe from the unknown realities of the redwoods outside, and safe back into the shelter of her mother’s home… the home that she had known her whole life… a safety she had come to appreciate without truly knowing the excitement or dangers of the outside world.

Her mother’s words sated her, and she nestled against her mother with an adoration and respect for the woman who had given her life, who continued to feed her and give her the milk necessary for her survival… She would nestle, and even find herself latching to begin to suckle, still clearly shaken from the horrific events of trying to be shown the outside world.

Soon, she would be weaned… and that would be it’s own traumatizing time. At the mention of a story she would headbutt against her mother’s stomach, nestling in more to provide her near-silent answer, apart from a few gentle mews of contentment, asking for a story without saying the words that were still difficult to form.

Yes, a story was the perfect way to distract herself.

”Speech"