It is always in the quiet moments that the terrors of the world are loudest. Such as nighttime. When it is time to sleep, one's mind is determined to keep one awake.

Now go to sleep, Lapblood. Please, Mange had said, well knowing that she would not. He would not either. Yes, they were both very well aware that there would be no gentle sleep on this quest. One must be sound of mind to sleep soundly, and they are not. They can't be.

She attempts to think of Sixclaw and Flyfur. It's not easy. She sees Sixclaw's six-clawed paw, shredding a fish expertly as he grins with delight. She sees him carve marks into the walls of their nest, making up signs to communicate with his siblings. Mange had taught him the Marks of Secret, and he had quickly taken to the idea. Flyfur is a wilder sort. She likes to hunt, even if she really is too small, and always brawls with the other pups. She is no fearless child, but she will attempt anything anyway.

Her pups.

In the silence, the jungle becomes audible. It whirrs and chirps, making noises like a living entity. Sometimes, she thinks that she hears a scream or a cry. It sounds like her youngest. Too young to have much of a personality, but old enough to be loved. Which is a faulty sentence in and of itself, for every pup should be loved from birth. Lapblood loves her pups. Mange loves their pups. That should be enough. Why isn't it enough?

Why are her pups dying? Why her pups? Why? What did they do wrong? What did she do wrong?

She had saved the warrior's sister today. It had been on impulse. Just before, she had wanted to kill the warrior. She had wanted to kill that foolish, audacious boy who had said something so cruel as her not loving her pups.

Then the frogs had been on the rocks. In the middle, the little girl. Hopping and smiling and laughing like everything was fine. Like it was all a game. Like she wouldn't die in a heartbeat. Like any pup, like Lapblood's pups before the plague took them.

We have to think of Flyfur and Sixclaw. They still have a chance.

But it's hard to believe that the world won't take all her pups.