Thicket of Secrets now look at this

@Nia for visibility - Rosemary is exiting the den <3

There was something out there, she just knew it.

Her Mah was keeping something from her. She'd always go out into the big light and come back and Rosemary would be stuck inside in the dark. Any time she would head over after her Mah, she would be put back inside and, though Rosie didn't know many words just yet, she knew what stay meant.

But it was so boring, especially when Mah got to go into the out so often! How was that fair, for Rosie to be left behind while Mah got to see all the things?

That's right. It wasn't.

So this time, when Mah left, Rosie had made her choice.

Into the out she went!

The curious pup crawled out of the den, surprised that the big light wasn't as bright as she'd expected. After a bit of blinking and squinting, Rosie looked up and up.

She'd been right! There was so much stuff out here!

Excited, the girl stomped around the little clearing she'd found herself in, proud of her venture and eager to see more.

She was tired all the time. This wasn't like the recovery from prior pregnancies, there was a massive shift in her energy. Had it been all the blood loss? Nia couldn't be sure. Drained. That was the best description of her near-constant state. The woman shuffled through the thorny foliage. Her daughter was growing despite her inability to provide herself with much food. The mother was gone more often than she preferred, forced to scavenge to get them by. She could only hope to produce enough milk for her precious baby.

Nia should have heard her daughter leave the den. She should have noticed. Something she'd feel guilty for later, but at the moment her mind was busy. Her eyes searching, nose tracking, and paws steadily falling into a rhythm. She was tired but that was no excuse. She chose to have another baby, and while her eldest bailed on her family, she wouldn't. A small spark of anger ignited at the thought of Sage's betrayal. Over swamp rats and a pretty boy!

Rose was unaware of her mother's weakened state or of any potential dangers might be lurking in the wilderness. She wasn't even aware that she was doing something bad in the first place. So on she wandered, toddling gracelessly from the entrance of the den off into the woods. Not too far, but certainly out of sight.

She froze when one dark paw landed on a patch of ground that felt different from the rest. Little puddles had gathered, left by a recent rainstorm, and Rosemary was about to find out just how much fun could be had with them. She stomped a few more times, delighted by the little splashes she was creating.

A happy squeal pealed from her maw as she bounced into one of the puddles in earnest, sending muddy water flying all over the place and soaking into her fur. The mess made for a happy child, but would her mother be as overjoyed to find a mud-covered pup after her much-needed nap?

Nia grumbled to herself,  muttering profanities beneath her breath. Every step was heavy and the search for food felt grim. Amidst her frustration and anger laughter graced her ears. She froze, ears pressing forward while brows creased. Her lips pulled back. The pup was too young to understand the rules, but her first outing? Nia was missing it because of the cruel paw dealt to them! The woman hurried there, lurking amongst the thorny foliage. It was dangerous for her baby to be out here alone and so small. She couldn't allow this to happen again.

Disgusting, disgraceful. Her internal voice spat the words out. The woman could reveal herself now, chastise her daughter for making a mess of herself, or she could give her a lesson. Teach her to never leave the den alone. Nia could not comprehend the cruelty of her own decision. A snarl ripped through the air as she dove in, aiming to pick her child up by the nape. Hoping to move fast enough Rosie wouldn't recognize her right away.

Rosie did not recognize her right away.

Fortunately, this did not scar the little one for life. Initially letting out a terrified squeal, finding herself dangling from her scruff with her tail tucked between her legs, Rosemary was quick to realize that it was her mother lifting her into her jaws. The fear melted into excitement and she wriggled around, giggling and kicking her paws. She had no notion of how dangerous the world was, or that her mother was behaving this way for a reason. Only that she was happy to be out of the den and happy that her mother was here.

She expressed this with a series of babbles and yips, bubbly and excited as ever. Did her mother get to go out in this all the time? Why had Rosemary not been able to see it yet?