Takes place shortly after Neko discusses the infirmary with Drestig and Jessie. 53 ° F/12 ° C. For @Cottongrass
Neko was proud of herself for the thought she had put into the infirmary. She had taken the time to check out suitable locations for it and had discussed it with Jessie and Drestig. She had also considered it’s layout and discussed that with the alpha pair as well. She had chosen a good location for the entrance where it was well obscured for security but still observable by the pack’s guardians and accessible to the pack. She knew enough to channel rainwater and melting snow away from the entrance and to dig the tunnel uphill to ensure that water would run out of the den and not into it.
Unfortunately, when it came to executing the plan, she fell short. She had dug out the main tunnel and its branches that would serve as the skeleton of the den with the intention of digging each chamber afterwards. Without thinking, she made the tunnels just big enough herself, probably the smallest adult in the pack. The thought of a larger wolf needing to fit comfortably didn’t even cross her mind. She also left clumps of loose dirt along the walls and ceiling, not realizing that they could cave in and potentially even trap her inside the tunnel.
Digging was harder work than she had anticipated, but she didn’t mind, knowing that her work was serving an important purpose. As she dug, her paw hit another rock. “Stupid stone, get out of my way,” she said in a mildly playful tone, almost as if she were speaking to a puppy and not an inanimate object. Normally, she would feel self-conscious about such a thing, but she assumed she was alone.