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She was awake, but only just. Gazing unfocusedly through the family den entrance, where the light was dim but enough to pick out small details. Just a few days ago, Legacy and her littermates had reached five months. Supposedly, this meant it might not be long, a month or so before they started to shift for the first time. She certainly hoped it would be sooner rather than later.
Recently Legacy felt like she'd been getting bigger at a faster rate than ever before, and she often couldn't sleep because of the twinge of growing pain and an unaccountable restlessness. It probably wasn't to do with being at home so much. In the winter, no one could be blamed for staying where it was warm and you had company. Perhaps it was due to guilt, after she'd lost her temper at the beach. The normally lively girl had been something that wouldn't be called subdued in anyone else but her since around that time. It didn't bother her thoughts too often. She'd learned, at least. Still, there were these early mornings that just kept repeating themselves.
A couple of dry rattling thuds, so echoed and muffled she couldn't identify the sound, came then from the direction of the central chamber. Legacy's ears pricked up and she instantly became more alert, though if she'd been asleep to begin with it was unlikely she would have heard anything. As quietly as possible she pulled herself up and, swaying slightly the first few steps, padded sleepily along the tunnel and then out into the big cavern. The fire was crackling already with a few bits of wood, so someone was up. Probably fetching more. Legacy waited by the fire, watching the new flames leap from the embers of yesterday.
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