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      The first of the flowers were blooming, stretching their petals out beneath the sun as snow and ice retreated. Life was returning to her quiet corner of the forest — the world's chatter bustling in light of new life. It was still quieter out here than Saboro's taunting jungle, and Sol Katti could rarely make out the whispers of the trees and wind here. But the Sovereign knew they were singing, their melody soothing and gentle, devoid of Saboro's cooing malice.

It was just as peaceful as it had been in the winter. Louder, but peaceful nonetheless. 

In the warm dawn light, Sol Katti made her way back to her ancient willow, her small frame slowly dragging a fawn she had caught just as the sun peaked over the horizon. It had been too bold for a prey animal, wandering too far from its mother and safety. Killing her catch had been difficult for the dainty Queen; the task of catching larger game still a struggle for her even after all these months as a nomad. But in the end it had been worth it, and a swell of pride kindled lightly in her chest.

Prowling past her blooming gardens that surrounded the large willow tree, she deposited her catch against knobby roots before slipping into the warm den. Soft snored filled foxlike ears, and a hint of a smile curled at her features. "Wake up." The dappled lady sang in her wind chime voice — which probably didn't really help rouse the slumbering speckled bundles. One by one, Sol Katti would nudge each with her nose. Nipping lightly at ears or cheeks and pressing kisses to heads. "Breakfast is outside. It's a special treat today; a fawn. Better get some before it's all gone..." Her gentle voice lilted into a tease before playfully nipping one of the sleepy children's rump and retreating out of the den back into the cool morning air. 

There, Sol Katti would sit by her willow tree, waiting for the song of children's voices to start her day. In front of her, the flowers of her gardens swayed and danced, their colors blending together. Purples and blues and yellows and whites—

—and red, red poppies, reminding her of a secret place.

Light broke into the hollowed tree of the willow, a gentle breeze, warm and welcoming with the promising scent of flowers. The warm rays spilling onto a mass of speckled blue, black, grey, yellow, white, and pink. The children all curled around each other, though the pastel little Ahi was the first to have his eyes flutter open as sunlight , bright and glaring, washed over him. Two-toned eyes bouncing about as things finally came into focus.

There was a hushed snoring, as his siblings snoozed the daylight hours away, raising his head, he'd caught a snag as his brother Jin rolled slightly upon the long tuft of black hair that framed the side of his face. "Jin..." Came a whimpered whisper, as he tugged once more before finally shoving at his brother with a chunky little paw. There was a unanimous groan heard as all of his siblings shifted in irritation though eyes never opened.

The sound of foot steps filled his feathered ears, blinking for a moment he peered out to the bright light of the den's mouth, the outside world looking oddly otherworldly as the sun's rays spilled over everything and diluted the colors. A figure, however, blocked out the light and Ahi caught sight of his mother just barely as he pretended to be asleep. Head resting on a brother as his long tail curled against his body. Her words carried a familiar tune of softness as she attempted to rouse them.

Her small shadow cast over her grand lot, and he'd felt a nudging against his back and behind his ears that he finally squirmed and looked up to her. Breakfast? That word caught his ears, and Ahi perked up immediately to catch his mother's eyes, but her speckled form was already stepping out of the hollowed out den. The small pup rolled from the pile, kicking up moss and dirt as he went, legs wobbling as he stood, but they found stability in his stance soon enough.


"Mama! Mama, wait! I'm up!" His soft voice cried as he strained to call out to her, a whirl of pastel blues and yellows against white with a stripe of black. He scampered out into the open air, the world bright and alive with blooming flowers and greenery. Another breeze coming to ruffle his fur, what a lovely morning! Vivid red and seafoam colored eyes came to land upon the form of his dappled mother, and coyly made his way over to her. Eyeing the fawn as he went, though it wouldn't be right to eat it without his siblings also being awake. "Good morning Mama." Ahi's soft little voice came, as he bashfully looked up at her, a forepaw extending to tap at her own. "What are we gonna do after breakfast? Explore? Hear stories?" He looked up to her, eyes wide and full of wonder.

She was the best thing, he'd ever known.