ooc:
By afternoon, she was well awake but well rested despite her late return from the banks of the lake. Thanks to the cooperation of her surrogate brood, she was able to steal back the lost hours from sneaking away during the night. They were well used to the woman’s morning routine that they could act on their own without her supervision. They were growing older now, especially now since both had adapted to their changing forms and were able to exercise the independence X’yrin (at times) kept them from with her overbearing coddles.
When she had at last emerged from the fur-lined den, she found that most of her daily tasks had been complete. The entrance of the den was relatively kempt, the borders near were well marked, even the cache now had new additions of meat though small… just large enough for growing fangs to take.
Smiling as she made her rounds, her elated mood carried her toward the enchanting lake once more to peer into its tantalizing depths and steal a drink before padding off again. She couldn’t have been higher in mood than now, all the result of a restful night. Energy brimmed within her, begging to be expelled the best way the woman knew how. No sense the pups being the only ones to find a meal this day. There were more mouths to feed and the idea of a fresh kill was simply to wonderful to pass. She felt so alive she believed she would burst if she did nothing with the build-up or energy. To drain the excess, she charged through the valley, skipping across the protruding rocks upon all fours with auburn mane caught wildly by the wind.
But all too soon her dance came to a halt to an odd sound ringing in the air. It was no bird, for its pitch was too soft, nor was it a creature for there was no meaning or rhythm in its song. It was unknown, and that was enough to drive her hackles to sharpened points and raise her head in song to contest the artificial chime.